Jobey McGinty - June 20, 2021
Preparing for Battle
If we're honest with ourselves, Jesus' teachings from John 15 can leave us (and, no doubt, the disciples themselves) feeling called to a life that's impossible to live. We are to love and be kind to those that hate us, and to never give up on those we are so tempted to see as hopeless causes. And just in case some of us feel like we're doing those things well, Jesus commands us to be perfect like God, Himself, is perfect! Thankfully, we are not left to our own strength to live this "impossible" life. Instead, God models the kind of love He requires by sacrificially loving you and I, His enemies, first. He then sends His Spirit to live within us with all of His infinite resources. He chooses us and appoints us to the life and work He calls us to. And to cap it all off, He calls us His friends.! So instead of seeing the call to perfect love and service as a hopeless, discouraging endeavor, we see a God who chooses us to do the work, prepares the work ahead of time, promises to bless it, and then calls us to simply abide in Him and watch what He does through us. ABOUT THIS SERIES: The Gospel of John was written "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing in Him you may have life in His Name" (John 20.30). The Apostle John, as an eyewitness and close friend of Jesus', desires for us to behold His beauty, love, and glory, and believe in His power and willingness to being forgiveness and life. As we journey through the Gospel of John, we will behold the life, teachings, works, and ministry of Jesus, and will hear straight from Him who He said He is, so that we would more deeply put our hope and trust in the Man who is God.
Scripture References: John 15:12-17
