Devotionals for September 9, 2022
Join us tonight at 7:00pm for a special prayer and worship event! Childcare available.
READ
John 15:9-17 NLT
9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
John 15:9-10 NLT
9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
John 15:9-10 NLT
9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
REFLECT
This week, we will read John 15:9-17 each day. And then look at a single section of verses to meditate on.
Commandment - an order given. A directive to an incredibly sensitive action.
Yet, here’s the catch: Self-sacrifice is a vulnerable thing. Perhaps the most vulnerable. Because you’re not looking out for your own interest.
Every human relationship a Christian has to add in one more party: God. It has to be more than a saying, it has to be more than a generic prayer. If you’re going to actually love, and self-sacrifice, for people, you know they won’t always do it back.
Commandment - an order given. A directive to an incredibly sensitive action.
Yet, here’s the catch: Self-sacrifice is a vulnerable thing. Perhaps the most vulnerable. Because you’re not looking out for your own interest.
Every human relationship a Christian has to add in one more party: God. It has to be more than a saying, it has to be more than a generic prayer. If you’re going to actually love, and self-sacrifice, for people, you know they won’t always do it back.
APPLY
Q: Read verse 17 again. Write out the first few things that you think of when you read this verse.
Q: How do you need to obey this commandment?
Q: What can you do for someone today to learn more about self-sacrifice? How can this encourage another and be a lesson for yourself?
Q: How do you need to obey this commandment?
Q: What can you do for someone today to learn more about self-sacrifice? How can this encourage another and be a lesson for yourself?
SING
PRAY
"And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one."
Father, this world tempts us to be decisive and cancel and move on when things get hard. But your love is greater than any power in this world. Help us live in that love and extend that love to others. In your name, Amen.
Father, this world tempts us to be decisive and cancel and move on when things get hard. But your love is greater than any power in this world. Help us live in that love and extend that love to others. In your name, Amen.