Thoughts on the Gospel of John (145) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2024

As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
John 15:9–11

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (145)
In the Gospel of John, the Lord speaks several times about love. If you put these statements together in four lines, the result is a quadrilateral of love:

The Father loves the Son (ch. 3:35).
The Father loves believers as He loves His Son (ch. 17:23).
The Lord loves His own as the Father loves Him (ch. 15:9).
Believers are to love one another as the Lord loved them (ch. 13:34).
The love of the Father for His Son is an eternal love which believers can never really fully comprehend, but which they will always admire. And with this love they themselves are loved!

As believers, are we always aware of this love? If we go our own way and are not obedient to the Lord’s commandments, we resemble children who do not appreciate their parents’ love because they have a guilty conscience.

The Lord’s love is like the sun – it always shines. It does not come into existence as a result of our keeping His commandments. But we must obey His commandments: only then do we open ourselves up to the rays of His love.

The Lord Himself is the best example for us: He always lived in complete harmony with His Father. Thus, He remained in His love and from this came a deep joy – which He also wants us to enjoy from the bottom of our hearts.

Today’s reading: 2 Samuel 9:1-13 · 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8