John 15:9
As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
In the passages of John 14 through 16, Apostle John shares moments where Jesus comforts His disciples. When Jesus unveils His impending suffering and death, the disciples become confused and bewildered. They had anticipated a political revolution, but Jesus brought a revolution against sin. He exhorted the disciples to abide in Him and His love.
Just like the disciples, our expectations of God and the world may not be authentic. We could call ourselves salad bar believers, picking and choosing the scriptures that we love but missing the whole point. Hence, our lives remain unchanged. However, God’s love has the power to transform lives in ways that far exceed any human love.
When the disciples encountered their Lord’s arrest and crucifixion, they were shattered and scattered. Yet these same disciples went on to transform the whole world when they embraced God’s love.
The disciples began bearing fruit (John 15:4) when they abided in the vine, Jesus Christ. The Father took over as their gardener, pruning out the unfruitful areas of their lives. For instance, Simon, a fisherman who denied Jesus, became the rock (Peter) for the new church. He preached with boldness to crowds (Acts 2:40-41), leading thousands to join the church, in one day!
When we abide in God’s love, we too can exceed our own and others’ expectations of our abilities (John 14:12). This involves giving control of our lives to the Holy Spirit, our advocate, who gives us wisdom and counsel. It’s crucial to stay connected to God through obedience to His word. Loving God truly means keeping all of His commands, not just a few easy ones (John 15:10). So, let’s abide in God’s love and transform the wicked world around us.
