Episode 31: John 15:9-11
Transcription
Today’s verse is John 15:9-11
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
Let’s pray together.
Why do I run away from Your love, Jesus? Is it because I’m afraid You’ll see me as I really am, someone unworthy? Well, the fact is, You already knew that. Is it because I’m afraid You will limit and restrict who I really am? Well, as my Creator, I can’t be who I really am without You. Is it because I just don’t see how I fit into Your plans? Well, You will guide and instruct me as I go.
So, today, LORD, help me to abide in Your love. Help me to revel in it, to glory in it. I want it to be apparent to all who see me today that I know Your love and that I love You in return. Let it manifest in me throughout my actions and words. Let me speak love to others, let me show love to others. Let me be kind and gentle and considerate. Help me to be selfless, looking for the good of You and of others. Give me opportunities and help me to see them so that I cannot hide from them.
We may not know love as we should. Jesus, we might have never had it shown to us well. We might be afraid of love, be afraid of what that means. Could we be hurt? Could we be used? Will You abandon us? Will You require too much of us? Vulnerability is scary, we don’t like the risk. We don’t like to change. Just because something is exciting does not mean it is good. Jesus, change our minds, change our hearts. Show us what true love is as we abide in You. Show us how good You are, how constant, how true, how fulfilling. Show us that You are perfect when our friends and our parents and our spouses and our children and our coworkers cannot be. Only You are the example.
Jesus, once we know the love, help us to show it to You. Help us to express our love for You in obedience, following Your commands, hearing Your voice, loving others as You love us. In each kind word and good deed and selfless thought and adherence to Your word, let us move a step closer to You, let us move a step closer to who we really are. Let us feel the goodness and the love that You exude. Help us to stand up for what is right and true and good as You did, as Your word says. We don’t know how to do that, we are but children, so teach us, gently and kindly, but teach us truth and teach us how to spread it to others in love.
I love that word, abide, LORD. It feels cozy, it feels safe. How wonderful that we get to abide forever with You. It makes me believe that You are right there beside me, as You are, walking each step, closer than I can imagine. I am not alone. I do not have to figure things out by myself. Not only do You help me, but You walked this path before I did. You know every twist and turn, You prepared a way for me. You showed me how to live by living the perfect life on this earth, loving Your Father as I hope to love You, obedient and unified.
And, as a result, You had such joy and I want that, I crave it. Joy seems to be in short supply these days. We find more to despair over than to rejoice in. Jesus, change that. Change that as we celebrate the season of Your birth. Help us to understand that when we love and follow You, our joy is complete. We may still have bad things happen to us, they may be happening right now, but that does not mean that our ultimate joy is diminished in any way. Help us to hold on to that truth in the sadness and despair. Help us to hold on to You, for Your joy. It’s not something we can conjure up ourselves. It comes only from You, only from Your life.
I want it. Jesus, give it to me today. Correct in me the things that keep me from joy. Help me to avoid distractions and busyness. Help me to carve out time today to focus on You, Your love, our relationship. I want to be present in my time with You. I want to give my all to You. I pray this for everyone today. We all need it so much and You are so powerful and capable, You can give it to all of us. Help us to ask, help us to receive. Thank You, Jesus, in advance for Your affirmation and response. You are so good and we praise and worship You today. We receive Your joy in the midst of our sorrow and we know that it is perfect as You are.
I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
