"Abide in My love"

Find a friend, and pray for one another!

Read John 15:1-17 together.

If we belong to Christ, then we must grow in Him. Just as how a branch of the vine depends on the root to supply water and nutrition, so we must depend on our Lord for grace. This dependence is total, for without Christ, we can do nothing.

• Do we realize that everything we have comes from God? Are we humbled by this?
• The result of abiding in Jesus Christ is that we will bear fruit in our lives, for the glory of God the Father. Do we share this purpose? Then God will answer our prayers.
• Here is a warning that we do not cease to be fruitful, lest God punish us in eternal fire. Since we were, undeservedly, ‘grafted’ into the church, we are to be useful servants of Jesus Christ. Are we ungrateful sometimes, when we forget to honour God? Ask for forgiveness.

For us to abide in the love of Christ, we must obey His commandments. What wonder it is, then, that He gives but one simple commandment: to love one another just as He has loved us! Jesus would go so far as to lay down His life for us, while we were enemies, to make us His friends.

• Likewise, our love should be unconditional – since love covers a multitude of sins. Do we freely forgive our brothers and sisters too? Do we love our neighbour as ourselves?

What privilege it is for us that the Son of God should call His servants friends! Yet even the apostles still called Him Lord, and we should too. For although we now we have peace with God, we recognise that we were chosen out of love. Yea, we had to be redeemed by Jesus’ blood before we could bear fruit; therefore we are forever indebted to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

There is not another government or religious system which is so thoroughly grounded in love. Jesus would have His kingdom founded upon love. As we remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ this month, let love become the motivation of our evangelism.

In conclusion, Jesus commanded us to love so that our joy may be full. Rejoice, for we are saved! Rejoice, for if we abide in His love, God will give whatever we ask in Jesus’ name. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

1. Pray in thankfulness to God: He loves us, and has given us everything we need, most of all salvation through Jesus Christ.
2. Pray that we might always speak the truth in love.
3. Pray for one another.

This is part of a series of prayer guides which was originally written by Timothy for a christian fellowship, to be used when groups of two or three would meet to share and pray. The idea is to hear God speak to us through His word first, and afterwards we speak to God in prayer. It is reposted here in case anybody would like to use it like a devotional, and to encourage us to pray together. Bear one another's burdens in love; cast all your care upon God, for he cares for you.