John 15:12-13 - Christian Love Defined

John 15:12-13

12 This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 

Message: Christian Love Defined

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: I think the word 'commandment' is an interesting one. It showed up I believe for the first time in John 12:49-50, "the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say, what to speak, and I know that His commandment is eternal life." Commandment is singular but refers to the Father speaking to Jesus. Then in 13:34 once Jesus mentions He will be going to a new place (glorified from verse 32) is "A new commandment I give you to you, that you love one another." In many ways up to this point John has really emphasized eternal life in his gospel. But here shifts to our relationship with others. 

Then in 14:21 commandments is plural and so more encompassing, "He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me." Commandments is more comprehensive now and is speaking to all the different ways we show love for God and others. 15:10, "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love." Commandment keeping moves from loving to abiding. 

And now in verse 12, the singular commandment is mentioned again, repeating the same idea from John 13:34 and only in verse 13 now is the elevation of this love when Jesus says it is more than loving, but to "lay down his life for his friends." 

I think only Jesus has laid down his life for all of his friends, but people still have done this. I think of a secret service agent taking a bullet for the president or not even a secret service agent, but perhaps someone else doing this, like a husband for his wife. When we see this in a movie, it is an incredible act of sacrifice. This was Jesus' purpose in going to the cross - to lay down his life so that other could live. The gospels showed the principle, but the cross made it permanent for all. I just don't think any other faith systems makes this prominent in their doctrines - the need to love others. 

But laying down my life can simply be done in laying down what is important to me in order to serve others. Like visiting people that need a word of encouragement, discipling someone, serving my dad or family member or wife or children. Many times coming home from work I didn't do this and was caught up in myself with my kids, not playing ball, not talking to them, not sitting alongside them to get to know their world - I regret those times because they are gone, but I can keep trying today and even today it requires sacrifice. 

Summary: Christ-like love is passed on from Him to us to us to others and as He would lay down His life for all of us, I can practice the same sort of sacrifice though in different ways toward others. 

Promise: Whatever our station in life, we should look for ways to spend our lives for the sake of others. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for challenging us in this way to love others. I thank you for the emphasis this has been in my life. I love others and yet I struggle with this at times in not seeing something in others I want to see - often selfless work or sacrifice for me. Help me to love others in a real way and not look for something in return. You paid the ultimate sacrifice for me in dying for me on the cross, shedding your blood for me. Help me to be more giving toward others. I thank you for John and what he emphasizes to us and the joy of reading and studying Your word. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

My Utmost for His Highest - November 15 - What Is That to Thee?

Lord, what shall this man do?…What is that to thee? Follow thou Me. — John 21:21,22

One of our severest lessons comes from the stubborn refusal to see that we must not interfere in other people’s lives. It takes a long time to realize the danger of being an amateur providence, that is, interfering with God’s order for others. You see a certain person suffering, and you say — “He shall not suffer, and I will see that he does not.” You put your hand straight in front of God’s permissive will to prevent it, and God says — “What is that to thee?” If there is stagnation spiritually, never allow it to go on, but get into God’s presence and find out the reason for it. Possibly you will find it is because you have been interfering in the life of another; proposing things you had no right to propose; advising when you had no right to advise. When you do have to give advice to another, God will advise through you with the direct understanding of His Spirit; your part is to be so rightly related to God that His discernment comes through you all the time for the blessing of another soul.

Most of us live on the borders of consciousness — consciously serving, consciously devoted to God. All this is immature, it is not the real life yet. The mature stage is the life of a child which is never conscious; we become so abandoned to God that the consciousness of being used never enters in. When we are consciously being used as broken bread and poured-out wine, there is another stage to be reached, where all consciousness of ourselves and of what God is doing through us is eliminated. A saint is never consciously a saint; a saint is consciously dependent on God.

Deuteronomy 15:11 - Why Do Some People Live in Poverty

Deuteronomy 15:11
For the poor will never cease in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.’

Message:  Why Do Some People Live in Poverty

Time: Moses wrote the Book of Deuteronomy. It is a collection of sermons given during the 40-day period prior to Israel’s entering the Promised Land. The year was 1406 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying: This is an interesting verse an idea. It states, the poor will never cease in the land. This is the context from verses 7-11:

“If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need whatever he lacks. Beware that there is no base thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of remission, is near,’ and your eye is hostile toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing; then he may cry to the Lord against you, and it will be a sin in you. You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings. For the poor will never cease in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.’

This is an interesting set of verses, reminding us to help those that are less fortunate. I don't exemplify this sort of attitude, but rather focus on what I can acquire. 

God will never make all people equal in this world. There will always be some with more, some with less. And my response therefore is: You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.There are two different types of people mentioned here: the poor and the needy.  The “poor” are in humble circumstances; the “needy” are actually in want.

There is a relationship we have with the poor. It is a permanent relationship, not simply momentary.   

Promise: To be wise stewards of God's resources, we must provide real help to people who are truly in need.

Prayer: Lord, help me to help others in need. The needs are great and there are many in need and yet there is too much of a desire in my life to acquire more than I probably need. Those that need help often live much simpler lives and yet I am often foregoing their needs for my own. Help me to be wise and look our for those in need.

Proverbs 6:18-19 - Four More things God Detests

Proverbs 6:18-19

¹⁸ A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that run rapidly to evil,
¹⁹ A false witness who utters lies,
And one who spreads strife among brothers.

 
Message: Four More things God Detests

Time: It seems that Proverbs was written and then compiled sometime between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C. Proverbs was probably written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying: 

So I continue with 4 more things that God detests. 

• A heart that devises wicked plans - these are sins that we commit internally. Our holiness goes beyond what people see to what they do not see. Do I spend time plotting evil or unrest in people? Do I go over and over and over, in my mind, those events? I think I often have a tendency to not only do this but also inside to think about how not wicked I am in comparison to others. In so doing, I am committing wicked acts. Granted, there are wicked thoughts in me, but when I begin to rehearse them and repeat them, there is a problem. I don't have to do the act, thinking it is enough. 
• Feet that run rapidly to evil - This is almost a continuation of the thoughts I might engage in, on wicked grounds. Here this is carrying those thoughts to action. One can fall into or slide into sin, but the language here is expressing something different. It is rather a swift attitude towards running to sin. Obviously one that acts on their evil thoughts will come under a bigger scrutiny because their actions will definitely affect others. 
• A false witness utters lies - The second sin was a lying tongue, so this sin is different from that one. The second sin was personal and its effect was primarily on self, even though lying effects others. But this one is more specific to our witness or my relationship with my neighbor. This is a repeat of the 8th commandment, bearing false witness. If nothing else, I can conclude that God hates lying. In some ways this is the lying chapter and the writer is reminding his reader how much we need to guard our words. 
• One who spreads strife among brothers - this is the 7th sin. This is the sin that the writer states is an abomination to the Lord. First, one has a personal lying tongue, then his lies affect others, and now he spreads strife among brothers. If there is one thing I know I did as a father to my children is encourage strife. Once someone disobeyed, I often shamed them into that feeling of worthlessness. That is unfortunately a shining example of this detestable act. It is striking discord or disturbing the community we have. In the original language these words means one who scrapes with his feet, draws them backwards and forwards on the ground in order thereby to give a sign to others.

Promise: Be careful of my speech, both inward and outward. It has an effect on many, most namely myself.

My Prayer: Lord, thank you for being the forgiver of my sin. Thank you for Jesus and the salvation I have. You have given me life and abundant life. You have rescued me. Thank you Jesus. Now, continue to correct the wrong in me and help my words to be few and certain and not lying and not hurting towards others. Thank you for this lesson.

Proverbs 27:2 - Praise from Others

Proverbs 27:2
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
A stranger, and not your own lips.

Message: Praise from Others

Time: It seems that Proverbs was written and then compiled sometime between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C. Proverbs was probably written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

Wise people do not praise themselves, they let others extol their virtues.

Do I ever go out of my way to communicate to others that I have succeeded?

Rev. Joseph Benson Commentary -  Except it be really necessary, either for thy own just vindication, or for the honour of God, or for the edification of others, in which cases this hath been allowed and practised by wise and virtuous men.

Matthew Henry Commentary - There may be occasion for us to justify ourselves, but not to praise ourselves.

Albert Barnes Commentary - Praise to be worth anything must be altogether independent.

Proverbs 15:25
The Lord will tear down the house of the proud,
But He will establish the boundary of the widow.

Ecclesiastes 7:8
The end of a matter is better than its beginning;
Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit.

Jeremiah 50:31
“Behold, I am against you, O arrogant one,”
Declares the Lord God of hosts,
“For your day has come,
The time when I will punish you.

Promise: Reject self-trust and rely on Him for salvation. 

Proverbs 27:9-10 - Closer than a Brother

Proverbs 27:9-10

⁹ Oil and perfume make the heart glad, so a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend.
¹⁰ Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, and; better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.

Message: Closer than a Brother

Time: It seems that Proverbs was written and then compiled sometime between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C. Proverbs was probably written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

I am reminded here that we need one another. We are not meant to traverse this life on our own. I'm always reminded of Hebrews 10:24-25 that says, "and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." This reminds me that church attendance is important, but it reminds me that our fellowship is important. We need to assemble together. We found this in church yesterday, and even just for the few brief moments we got to church and saw old friends and shared that life is tough and a challenge and got that encouragement as well. And then that we could sit together and worship God together. Well, it was nice. 

Our Christian friends are people we share a common bond with. I appreciate the people that God has placed in my life - Fred, Pete, Craig, Bruce, Bobby, Scott, Karl, Warren. These are very important men in my life. There are more, but these men are consistently in my life and encouraging me. 

I think it is so important to have these men in my life. I need that daily reminder that life is a challenge and these men can encourage me. They help me put life in perspective. I am blessed to have them in my life. 

I agree with verse 9 that "a man's counsel is sweet to his friend." There have been many times when the words of Craig or Pete or Craig or Bobby or Scott or Warren have said something to me that just reminds me the importance of God's love in my life. There have been hard days of late, in some ways reminding me that I am not in control, but God is in control. I need to keep my eyes on God and trust him for the outcomes of life. 

I also realize that absent from this list is my own brother. I need to do it more, but I am not going to my brother. I could use time with him more. But, he and I are not as close as I would like. We live in different circles. I think this verse that says, do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity, realizes at times that our family members sometimes don't offer the best guidance in our lives. Mine would though, and I need to go to him more.

Promise: The counsel of a friend should be sweet, earnest, effective and grounded in concern for us, encouraging us to love God and trust Him.