3rd May 2024
The Father’s love
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.”
John 15:9 (NIV)
My husband and I have quite different tastes in films. I like romantic comedies and he likes gritty thrillers, but when choosing a film to watch together we can usually agree on something. Although there are times at the end of the film when we agree that neither one of us liked it. Such is life!
Films, books and music about love and romance are popular today. Although we recognise different types of love, such as the love between family members and friends, or between lovers, most of us think of love in terms of emotions and feelings.
The Bible talks a lot about love. Its pages are full of people driven by love, responding to love, and seeking love. The King James version of the Bible mentions love over 555 times. It says that people are made in the image of God and that God is love. 1 John 4:16 (NIV) states, ‘And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.’
In John 15:9-10, Jesus says this: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now 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.”
The love mentioned here is a very particular type of love that has its source in the Father. Jesus says, “As the Father has loved me”. We are loved with the same love that God has for his Son. In fact, it is this same love that Jesus has for us. The word love in this passage is the Greek word agape and it has been carefully chosen by John to distinguish God’s divine love from all other types of love. Agape love is not primarily about feelings and emotions instead it is unconditional and self-sacrificing.
In some respects, the Father’s love has nothing to do with us and everything to do with who he is. His love for us is not determined or influenced in any way by our love for him. In his extravagant and costly love for us, he gave his one and only Son. He did this, not because of anything we had done, but simply because he loves us.
The love given to us in Jesus is the same love which has its origin in the very relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That is the love Jesus gives us to receive, and remain in.
Will you receive his love and abide in it? If you do you will bear much fruit – the kind that lasts.
Prayer
Our loving Father, help us to have a deeper understanding of your love for Jesus and for us. Help us to live as one of your beloved children, abiding in your love, so that we may better love you and others. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Study by Jackie Mill
About the writer:
Jackie Mill is a minister in Grace Communion International and Co-Regional Pastor for Scotland, Ireland, and Northern England.
Local congregation:
Grace Communion International Central Glasgow
Garnethill Room
Conference Suite
St Andrews West
260 Bath Street
Glasgow
G2 4JP
Meeting time:
Sunday 11:15 am
Local congregational contact:
Peter Mill
Email: edinburgh@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church