“I Appointed You To
Go And Bear Fruit”
"Just
as the Father has loved me, I have loved you. Now remain in my love. If you
obey my commands, you will remain in my love. In the same way, I have obeyed my
Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy
will be in you. I also want your joy to be complete.
"Here
is my command. Love each other, just as I have loved you. No one has greater
love than the one who gives his life for his friends. You are my friends if you
do what I command.
"I
do not call you servants anymore. Servants do not know their master's business.
Instead, I have called you friends. I have told you everything I learned from
my Father.
"You
did not choose me. Instead, I chose you. I appointed you to go and bear fruit.
It is fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you anything you ask for
in my name.
"Here
is my command. Love each other.
John 15:9-17
Jesus
accepted everything that was thrown at Him. He knew it was God’s will. He knew
He had to be sacrificed for our sins, and He did that. He offered no resistance
to this injustice. Although He possessed the power to create
a universe, Christ gave himself up voluntarily to His captors and to the
waiting cross.
Christ’s
lamblike self-sacrifice is a wonderful indicator of His powerful love.
The nail-pierced hands of Jesus reveal the love-filled heart of
God.
Our Daily Bread –