We Are Family

As you were growing up, did your family say “I love you” much? Did your family members communicate “I love you” in other ways? Our culture uses the word love to mean many different things. One person might say “I love my family” while another person might say “I love football!” What are we to make of that?

You may not be surprised to know that the Bible has a lot to say about love! The word “love” appears 686 times in the Bible. In John 15:9-16 we read one of the greatest assurances of God’s love.
Jesus tells us that just “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you (v9).” Jesus is reflecting and passing on God’s love to us. Later, in verse 12 he tells us to also reflect and pass on that love from God, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” We are God’s representatives of love to people in our lives.

Within these verses is another important instruction: “Keep my commands just as I have kept my Father’s commands (10).” Oh, my. I must confess that I have not, do not, keep God’s commands. Does that mean that God doesn’t love me and that I am incapable of loving others? No it does not. Just a few verses later we read, “
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (v13)”. That’s exactly what Jesus did, for you and me. He willingly died on the cross to rise and conquer death for us. Our sins are forgiven and our relationship with Him is solid. It is sobering to note that Jesus did not just share words, He gave His life for us. How does that impact our lives of love, service and joy? Jesus wants and extends a loving relationship with us.
Jesus, in a very compassionate way explains, “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 (15).”
Jesus summarizes:
“The Father loves me”
… “So I love you.”
“I keep Father’s commands"
 … “You keep my commands.”
“Make my joy complete” …
“May my joy be in you.”

Do you feel like Jesus’ loved family member? We have this assurance, “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 (16).”  He loves us and has sent us on a mission to pass His love onto others.

Closing Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, in the morning, You hear our voices; in the morning we lay our requests before You and wait expectantly. We, by Your great love, can come into Your presence, in reverence, in awe, in love and hope. Let all who take refuge in You be glad; and let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over us all, that those who love Your name may rejoice. In Jesus’ name. Amen.    adapted from Psalm 5