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John 15:9-14 (NIV):
9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
In the verses above Jesus made it clear about how the disciples were to live. They were to follow His example. They were to do as Jesus commanded.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to also do as Jesus commanded. From John 15:12, Jesus wanted the disciples to love one another. As the verse said: My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. There are other verses that tell us what to do. Take for example, the following two:
- Matthew 6:33 (NIV) states: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
- Matthew 22:37-38 (NIV) states: Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.
Time for reflection.
- Are we really loving each other?
- Are we really seeking God’s Kingdom above anything else?
- Do we truly love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind?
If we are not doing as Jesus commanded, we must know the seriousness of our actions. We must change and we need God’s help to do so.
In the end, we cannot say we love God and not love Jesus. We cannot say we love God and not follow Jesus. And we cannot claim to be a friend of Jesus if we do not do what Jesus commands.
Colossians 1:13-14 (NIV) states: For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Except where indicated, scripture references are from the American Standard Version (ASV), Darby Translation (DARBY), or King James Version (KJV) – all public domains.
