Ok, sweet friends, how’d you do with yesterday’s study? Are you fruity yet? You all know that’s my goal this year – to bear much fruit!
Now we’re going to get right into today’s study on John 15:9-17, so will you take a few minutes to read those precious verses and familiarize yourself with today’s text. Again, I will include supporting verses that I hope you will take a few minutes and look up. I promise, they will enhance your study!
1. Look back over todays passage and count how many times you find the word love or loved.
2. Based on verse 1, how does Jesus love us?
The greatest movie ever made could never hold a candle to the greatest love story of all time. The one in which the God of creation became the babe in the manger so that He could become the Savior of the world. All because of love!
It’s theme is woven throughout Scripture. In every page we find whispers of its affirmation. It is what gives mankind faith, hope and peace, joy, strength and courage. All we are and ever hope to be finds its crux in the unfathomable love of God. Without it, nothing else would matter.
If God were holy, but He was not love, we would have no hope. It is because of His love that forgiveness was ever extended. In fact, the cross not only originated from the love of God, but it also defines the extent of the love of God.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
Today, as I’m writing this, I’m aware that some of you are going through some difficult days. Perhaps you feel as though your life is crashing in on you and you can’t go on. Maybe you just feel overwhelmed by the dailies of life. Some of you may even feel as though God has abandoned you – that He doesn’t hear or see you.
I want you to know sweet friend that based on God’s own Word (and God cannot lie. Hebrews 6:18) – there is absolutely nothing that can separate you from the love of God.
“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
I’m not sure who needs to know this today, but I sense the need to write this to some sweet sister who is going through a difficult time. I want you to know that there is no greater love than God’s love, sweet friend. You are the object of His affection and the apple of His eye. He has inscribed you upon the palm of His hands; He knows the number of hairs on your head and the thoughts of your heart. He sees your heart and hears your cry. He loves you with an everlasting love. He will never leave you, He will never forsake you. He has birthed you into His forever family and made you doubly His by adopting you. No one can snatch you out of His hand. You are His child. You are His friend.
As you look back over today’s verses (John 15:8-17), please answer the following questions.
3. According to verse 10, what is the correlation between loving God and keeping His commandments?
4. Would you say your life could be described as one that keeps His commandments?
5. According to verse 11, why did Jesus say what He said in these passages?
6. Is your life characterized by the joy of Jesus?
7. In verses 12 and 17, what does Jesus command us to do and to what extent?
8. Can you say you love others as Christ loves you?
9. Do you struggle with loving the unlovable – the ones whose behavior demonstrates that they don’t really “deserve” our love?
10. Does Jesus love you because you are worthy of His love?
11. According to verse 13, what is the ultimate demonstration of love?
You may never have to physically die to demonstrate your love for someone else, but are you willing to die to your pride, die to your way of doing things, die to your rights, your will and your feelings so that you may demonstrate that you love someone else more than yourself.
12. What are the 2 basis for our newfound role as friends with Jesus as found in verses 14-15? (There are two mentioned)
Jesus linked our obedience to Him with our love for Him. He also reveals Himself to us based on our relationship to Him as His friend? Think for a moment about the different type of relationship a friend has with another friend and a servant has with a master. Although it’s right to submit the the Living God as His servant, it’s equally right to obey Him because He is our friend. That relationship establishes the road to fresh revelation. Oh, sweet friends, don’t you just love the way He loves us!
As we conclude today’s lesson, let’s enjoy the truth we find in John 15:16.
13. Please reread verse 16 and explain who chose who and for what purpose?
That verse comforts me and challenges me all in one breath. Can you believe the Living God would look down from heaven, pick out this wretched little girl with a bad past and bleak future and choose her to bear fruit for Him? To make a difference for such a time as this? The question is, am I bearing the fruit He so sacrificially died to see come forth from my life? Are you?
Ladies, I hope you see how rich John 15 really is! I just love, love, love the Word of God! Today’s text reminds us that God not only loves us to the max, but He has also chosen us, called us friends and told us He will reveal Himself to us. And, as if choosing to tag verse 17 on the end of this segment and say, “Oh, by they way, love one another!”
God’s love in us should equal God’s love through us! The question for all of us today is, “Are we walking in the love of God?”
Sweet sister, Bible study isn’t for the faint of heart. There are words that will comfort our souls, but there are also words that will convict our hearts. Today, we’ve experienced a little bit of both in these 9 short verses! Wow! God really does speak to us from His Word! I want to be like Samuel and say, “Speak Lord, for your servant hears. Your servant and Your friend!”
I hope you are enjoying our study of John 15! Oh how great the Father’s love for us, sweet friends!
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