Live 4 The LORD

READ

14  You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 This I command you, to love one another.  (John 15:14–17, RSV2CE)

REFLECT

if I want to be a friend of Jesus I have to do what he commands. It is a choice I must make. I would no longer be a servant because servants don’t know the master’s business they just follow orders. Jesus does not want me to just follow orders as a servant. He wants to be friends and let me in on the Father’s plan. We would do the Father’s commands together as friends. 

Jesus chose me, I did not choose him. We cannot choose him without his grace opening our hearts. However we do have a choice to choose him back or reject. He chose me to an appointed role and that I should bear fruit as I go through the plan. And this fruit I am bearing will go into eternity not just here on the earth. We are now living for eternity, this world is dying away. 

Whatever I ask the Father, in Jesus’ name, he will give it. Asking in Jesus’ name means it is within his will. So I can ask anything in his will and it will be done. Ask to constantly be filled with the Spirit which is the life of God inside me so I am able to do all He asks and requires of me. 

I am commanded to love one another. The only true love is in with and through God. So the only love I should foster to others is to know Him and what He requires. Repentance and to Follow Him into eternity, not any other earthly purpose or passion is worth losing the love of God for eternity!

PRAY

Jesus, I do want to be your friend! I want to partner with you to know the plan and walk it out together. I don’t want to just follow orders, I want to be in communion. 

I know you chose me and changed my heart. I had no desire for holiness nor did I even know it was a thing. I had no idea how dirty I was. Thank you for choosing me! I choose you back and ask for your grace to change my heart, soul, mind and body to do your will all the way home. 

You said that if I ask anything from the Father, according to your will, it will be done. I ask for the Holy Spirit to fill me everyday and run my life. I want to be doing your will your way in your timing all the way home bearing fruit for your glory!

Help me truly love others! The way to truly love others is to give them you! Only you are true happiness. All the world is, is dying and killing our souls. It is hard to stand against the tide…give me strength to be able to withstand the backlash. After all, no earthly purpose or passion is worth losing you! I must tell them the truth for their sakes and mine!

Amen!