FWD: Morning Manna (Nov. 17); BP: Jn. 15:1-11; RBTTY: Heb. 12; Ez. 5-7

 
Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net

 

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-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Fri, 16 Nov 2007 05:57:03 -0600
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Nov. 17); BP: Jn. 15:1-11; RBTTY: Heb. 12; Ez. 5-7
 
November 17                                                    "Love’s Example, Essence and Expression"  
"As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Continue in My love. If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love."
                                                                                                                                              John 15:9-10
      Communion and compliance are inseparable twins when it comes to serving the Lord.
     How tenderly the Lord Jesus spoke the words in today’s Manna to his closest followers that day. He’d already demonstrated true servanthood by washing their feet (13:1-20), announcing His betrayer (13:21-30), announced His impending departure (13:31-35), foretold Peter’s denial (13:36-38) and tried to calm their fears by reminding them where He was going and Who He was/is (14:1-31).
     But, then He launched out into an explanation about their "communion union" with Him. He used the analogy of the "vine and the branches". . .how a branch is dependent upon the vine for its life and fruitfulness. . .and how their living Spirit-led, fruitful lives would bring glory to the Heavenly Father (15:1-8).
     Thus, His words "As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you" were couched in deep, heartfelt compassion and a desperate longing for them "to love one another as He had loved them" (Jn. 13:34; 15:12). He wanted them to know the love He was showing them was exactly the same way the Heavenly Father felt about them. Glory!! And, we shouldn’t be surprised that later on He said "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. . . because they hate My Father also" (15:18, 23).
     Likewise, we shouldn’t be surprised that Jesus went on to say "Continue in My love," which simply means "Abide constantly in My love," since the word "continue" comes from the same Grk. word "meno," used for "abide." Another way to say it is: "Pitch a tent in My love and drive the stakes deep—and don’t let anything. . .anything. . . whether it be heartache or hardship. . .pain or persecution. . .disappointments or danger. . .tempt you to pick up and move somewhere else."
     Yes, "Continue in My love"—and, in so doing you’ll be "keeping (Grk. ‘tereo’—‘to keep a watch on, post a guard over, hold fast onto, etc.’) My commandments and rest assured you are acting just like I would." Simply put, you’ll be pleasing the Heavenly Father and experience the same depths of loving pleasure I experience with Him.
     Oh, dear Pilgrim, we can’t even begin fulfilling today’s Manna in our own strength for our flesh is fickle and our love fleeting. By nature we’re "selective lovers" and only love those who love us, even though Jesus said such "love" is counterfeit and has no reward (Mt. 5:43-48).
     Truly, the only way we can know the Father and walk in fellowship with Him through Christ is by loving others as Jesus has loved us. And, this will not happen until our hearts have been transformed by His redeeming love. May the Holy Spirit show us if we’re "abiding in Christ" or still living for self? Our and others’ eternity depends upon it.