“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” John 15:12.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God says:
If anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. 2 Timothy 2:5-6. To be skillful at a profession you must understand the laws, intricacies, and rules that govern that discipline and even pass certain tests to show you are competent in that area, such as the bar exam, contractor exams, medical boards, and other exams required to obtain certain licenses to enable you to legally practice those skills. And some require certain continuing education courses to keep you updated in your profession. And this is true also in the spiritual life. You must become skillful in putting My Word to work in your life. “Take care what you listen to. By what measure you measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.” Mark 4:24-25. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of truth. But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will progress to further ungodliness, and their word will spread like cancer.” 2 Timothy 2:15-17. For “you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God (“God-breathed”) and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:15-17.
“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3.
It is important to have knowledge of My Word, which is knowledge of Me, for you to live a successful and triumphant life. To abide in Me and have My Words abide in you it is necessary to know My Words. Pay attention to My Words, keep them before your eyes and write them on the tablet of your heart. My Words are life to those who find them and health to all their flesh. I send My Word to heal and deliver you. It is time you put your attention on My Word and begin to live it, for My Word is living and working, sharper than any two edged sword dividing joints and marrow, soul and spirit, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. If you want a life of answers you will find them in My Word.
Today I am continuing My life lessons to you on how to live the abiding life. This also is how to enter My rest and live the life that is life indeed, the abundant life Jesus came to give you. And Jesus gave you a tremendous promise: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 15:7. Here is the key to answered prayer, abide in Me and let My Words abide in you.
We have done Life Lessons numbers 1-4, if you recall, here is what we have covered so far, Life Lesson No. 1: “Forgive, Forget, and Proceed,” Life Lesson No. 2: “ Do not fear, only keep on believing,” Life Lesson No. 3: “Give and it shall be given unto you,” Life Lesson No. 4: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength,” and today is Life Lesson No. 5: “Love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12. This is a commandment that Jesus gave just a few sentences after His promise of the abiding life that we are considering herein.
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” John 15:7-8. It glorifies Me when you are a disciple who bears much fruit, the life of good deeds I prepared for you in advance in Christ Jesus that you might walk in them. Ephesians 2:10. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16. It gives Me glory when you love one another as I love you. My sun shines on the good and the bad, on the just and the unjust. I am good to all, but I withhold no good thing from those who seek and love Me, from those who keep My Word. Do not lose heart in doing good, for in due time you will reap if you do not grow weary. So then, while you have opportunity, do good to all people, but most especially to those who are of the household of the faith. Galatians 6:9-10. Begin with the children’s bread and then go out to the ends of the earth.
Fruitful to My glory, manifesting My goodness, power and presence in the earth through you as a branch on the vine. And love is the first fruit of the Spirit. It glorifies Me when you love one another as I love you. And Jesus gave this command to believers. And how do I love you? You see it in Christ Jesus, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:3-5. For all will know you as My disciples by your love for one another.
After Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, He told you, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35. He had served them by washing their feet, so they should serve others. The humble service of a servant, but also the service of an evangelist, teacher, and pastor in washing the filth from the minds of believers by the washing of water with the Word. “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” John 13:12-17. Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:25-27.
Once when His disciples were fighting among themselves as to who was the greatest, He told them the greatest one among them was the one who served the others. That to have first place you must be willing to take the lowest place by being a servant to all. Jesus did not come to be served but to serve, to give His life as a ransom for the many. Your motive for service should be love and compassion. People do not need to be impressed by you so much as to be loved by you. And true love is to bring them to salvation and the freedom of My children. Show them the Shepherd.
Serve and love others but be careful with those who are not believers. Serving them means nothing if you do not bring them out of the realm of darkness into the Light. Jesus’ primary mission was to save you for eternal life. I sent Him to seek out and save the lost and to preach the good news of the Kingdom. And what did He send His apostles out to do? “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.” Matthew 10:7-8. He says the same to you today.
Yes, His last mandate to you who believe in His Name was to cast out demons, lay your hands on the sick so they can recover, and witness to the good news of Jesus from where you are out to the ends of the earth. Be like Jesus, “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” Acts 10:38. Do the works He did and greater. John 14:12. This is love of neighbor—to heal, set free, and deliver as you lead them to Jesus.
His mission statement is now yours as members of His Body and branches abiding in the Vine: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:16-18. And that is loving one another as He has loved you.
I love you. Abide and set the captives free.