The apostle John wrote how Jesus told His disciples, “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you”, and in chapter fifteen and verse seventeen of his book John shared how Jesus said, “these things I command you, that you love one another”, where we read:
These things I command you, that you love one another.
The verse begins, “These things I command you, ...” John began with Jesus' words, “these things” which means “the words about Jesus choosing His disciples and using them to bear fruit in His Kingdom” “I command you” or “I, Jesus, order, enjoin and charge you, disciples of Jesus” to do the following. John shared how Jesus began to tell His disciples about why He told them that He chose them and the were to produce “fruit” in His Kingdom.
The verse goes on to say, “... that you love one another.” John continued with Jesus' words, “that you love” which means “that you, disciples of Jesus, be fond of, contented with and pleased with and dearly love” “one another” or “each other”. John shared how Jesus “commanded” His disciples to “dearly love each other”.
When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus spoke His affirming words to His disciples to “direct” them toward “loving one another”. God loves people, and He sent His Son Jesus to demonstrate His “love” toward them by dying on the cross to pay the penalty for their sins. When they submit their lives to Him, God will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. Jesus' command to “love one another” is given to all who will follow Him, and those who yield to Jesus learn to “love others” even as He “loved” them.
Next time John shares how Jesus tells His disciples, “if the world hate you, you know that it hated me before”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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