Devotionals for August 24, 2023
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READ
John 15:9-17
“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. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit —fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
“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. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit —fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
REFLECT
Jesus is sharing this with His disciples not long before His betrayal. Jesus could have talked about anything, yet He chose friendship and selfless love as one of His major points. Jesus also talks about bearing fruit for Him, “fruit that will last”. I’m sure you’ve thought about the legacy you want to leave on this earth. Jesus makes it so clear: Love each other. And in doing so, you bring honor to His name.
APPLY
Q: How does Jesus model the kind of love He’s talking about here?
Q: How can you focus your heart on serving others like Jesus did?
Q: Jesus is teaching His disciples how to love in this passage. Who can you also teach and show the way of Christ today?
Q: How can you focus your heart on serving others like Jesus did?
Q: Jesus is teaching His disciples how to love in this passage. Who can you also teach and show the way of Christ today?
SING
PRAY
"Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us."
Lord, forgive me for holding on to any bitterness towards any person. Help me to walk in charity and in love today. Your Son has commanded me to love as He loves. Teach me today and help me keep in step with your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord, forgive me for holding on to any bitterness towards any person. Help me to walk in charity and in love today. Your Son has commanded me to love as He loves. Teach me today and help me keep in step with your Holy Spirit. Amen.