Saturday Scripture Gold: John 15:11-12

Happy Saturday!

Thank you for joining me today. Each week, I will take a verse (or passage) from the Bible and dig beneath the surface to uncover the precious golden nuggets of truth, wisdom, and knowledge that lie waiting to be discovered. I pray that you too will be inspired to do some of your own digging into God's scripture!

This week's Bible passage: John 15:11-12

Love and joyful peace make up the main message in today's passage. God loves all men, even those in sin (John 3:16; Romans 5). To live in love means to continue in the relationship in such a way that we receive the benefits of love. To do this, we must act in harmony with love. If we don’t obey, then we’re not acting in love and therefore the fellowship of love is broken. We’re not “living in” love; not because God doesn’t extend it, but because we have violated it.

Jesus explained that He spoke these things so we might receive the joy He has to offer and that joy may be full. True joy comes from serving Jesus (cf. 16:24; 17:13). This joy is full joy. Many people seek joy in physical achievements: wealth, pleasure, power, popularity, athletics, physical beauty, etc. But that joy is ultimately empty. The joy that is full is the joy Jesus gives.

This joy is not a constant emotional high. Nor is it the result of pleasant physical surroundings. This is proved by the fact that Jesus says He will give us His joy. What joy did He have on the very night before His betrayal, arrest, trials, and crucifixion? We know that He was deeply distressed and troubled as He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was not emotionally thrilled, nor did He face pleasant physical circumstances. Yet, He had joy.

The joy Jesus gives is an inner knowledge that we have God’s blessings; that we are abiding, or living in Him and in His love. This is the joy Jesus had, even as He faced the cross. This joy sustains us, even when our circumstances are not the best and our hearts saddened by those circumstances.

Scripture: Matthew 13:44; 25:21, 23; Luke 6:23; 10:20; Acts 5:41; 8:39; 13:52; 16:34; Romans 15:13; Galatians 5:22; Philippians 2:17; 3:1; 4:4; Colossians 1:24; 1 Thessalonians 5:16; 1 Peter 1:6, 8; 4:13.)

After clarifying how we receive true joy from serving Him, Jesus then returned to the importance of love and repeated the command that we should love one another as He loved us. Then He showed again that love is demonstrated by what we do. And the greatest love is that one would be willing to give his life for his friends.

This not only illustrates love, it defines it. Love is a willingness to give of oneself for the good or well-being of others. This concern for others will cause us to put their welfare ahead of our own. The greatest degree of that love, Jesus said, is that we be willing to give our lives for some-one else. This connects to the love Jesus had for us (v12) because He was about to lay down His life for us. This proves His love and that He was treating us as friends (Romans 5:5-8; John 3:16; 1 John 4:10, 11; Ephesians 2:4-6).

We in turn are to love others as He loved us. We should be willing to give our lives for Him and for one another (cf. Revelation 2:10). We do this, not just in physical death, but by using our lives every day in doing what is good for others (Romans 12:1; Matthew 16:24,25; 10:38,39; John 12:25; 2 Corinthians 8:5).

Thus, love is the power that moves us to keep God’s commands, and Jesus’ example shows us how to express love. Christ's love to us should direct us to love each other.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:2,31-5:2; Philippians 2:2,3; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 4:9,10; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; Hebrews 13:1; 1 Peter 1:22; 2:17; 3:8,9; 4:8; 1 John 2:7-11; 3:10-18,23; 4:8-5:3.)


Let's Pray:

Father, You bless those who revere Your name and delight in Your commands. In the midst of inner turmoil or outer conflict I will not be shaken for my heart remains steadfast trusting in You and Your overall plan for my life. I want to remain firmly grounded as I overcome the daily obstacles common to all who live on earth. Help me to learn the valuable lessons along the way as I press on toward the goal for which You have called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Until next week...

God bless you,

Rochelle