WARM-UP
“‘As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love. 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.’” — John 15:9-10
Love is possibly one of the most overused words in American culture. We love certain teams, certain foods, certain music – the list is endless. Because we attach the word love to so many things we have wandered from its true meaning.
Q: What comes to mind when you hear the word love?
Q: Do you ever think about love in the context of competition? Why or why not?
WORKOUT
Love
As we previously discussed, God is cultivating branches that produce an abundant harvest of love. So, how do we define love? In our culture, the word love has a wide range of meanings. I can just as easily love pizza and love my spouse, however, I would hope no one would think I’m equating those two things. Love is something we feel, but love is also something we can choose even when our current emotional status is not what we would describe as loving. The ancients also understood love to have a wide range of meanings. In the original language of the New Testament, there are five words that we could translate as love.
The word John uses here is agape. This love is the unconditional, self-denying, long-term commitment form of love, and it is the word the authors of New Testament use most often regarding God’s love. The apostle Paul gives a beautiful definition of agape in his first letter to the church at Corinth. He writes, “Love (agape) is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). This love is what God wants His branches to produce.
Choosing Obedience
Jesus says in John 15:10, “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love.” In obeying the Father, Jesus remained in God’s love. Now in the same way, when Jesus’ disciples obey His commands, they remain in His love. Back in John 14:15, Jesus told them, “If you love me, you will keep my commands.” Agape love, this sacrificial, self-denying, others-oriented love, is something we can receive, give, exercise and prove. This standard of love that Jesus sets for His relationships goes far beyond sentimentality or empty words of affection. He is talking about a real commitment that is demonstrated primarily through obedience. Jesus knows the only way His disciples would love well is to obey Him because He is the very embodiment of love. Everything Jesus said or did was motivated by love and a demonstration of agape love. Every act of mercy or word of harsh rebuke was motivated by love and the demonstration of love. When we choose to obey Jesus we walk as He walked: in love.
WRAP-UP
We are proven as disciples when we choose to cultivate agape love.
God wants us to produce agape love.
Agape love requires obedience to Jesus.
Obeying Jesus means walking in love as He did.
Key Action
Reflect and discuss: How do I demonstrate love to my family? Friends? Coworkers? Team? Opponents? Enemies?