Pam's Perambulation

We thought last week about remaining in God, being firmly attached to his life and growth.  Now we are told specifically that we are to remain in his love.

John 15:9-17

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. 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.

What does remaining in God’s love look like?

Well, first of all, it involves letting him love us.  That may sound strange, but it is perfectly possible to keep God at arm’s length, to not “let him in”, to stop him wrapping his arms around us and allowing ourselves to know we are loved by him.  A relationship with God is just that, a two-way event.  It is not just about us doing the right thing, worshipping him, praying and all those other things that make up faithful christian living; it is also about allowing God to touch us.

We need to rest in God’s love…

…and then

we have to go, and love others in the way that God loves us – a sobering thought.

God loves, without memory, without condition, without holding anything back.

The fruit we are called to grow are the fruit of love.

Lord,

I long to feel the touch of your love.

May I not keep you at arm’s length,

or shut you out,

but receive the love you pour out to me.

Let it fill me,

and overflow from me,

that I may pass that love on,

to others that need to know

and feel

your love

– my love

~ by pamjw on May 9, 2012.

Posted in God, Jesus, Lectionary, love
Tags: John 15:9-17, live, love