Live in the Love of Jesus

City Harbor Church – Hampden, Baltimore, MD

“abide in my love,” John 15:9

This is Part Two of our January series “Be with Jesus”.

“I am the true vine, remain in me, and I will remain in you.” – John 15:1, 4 NCV

Stay Connected: Abide – Jesus in John 15:1-17 Jesus calls us to stay connected to Him.

Abide: living with, to live in, maintain a connection with, stay with,

“As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” – John 15:9-11 CSB

I. What does Jesus mean when he says in John 15:9 “abide in my love,”?

“Remain in my love,” – John 15:9 Stay in love. Stay Connected to the love of God. Receive love from Jesus and return love to Jesus. This brings us into receiving love from God, and in return loving God with all we’ve got.

A. To “be in” Jesus is to have received his love, in its saving grace.

Romans 5:8-11

Romans 10:9-13

By confessing faith in King Jesus as Savior, confessing, and turning away from our selfish lifestyle, believing in our hearts that King Jesus is our Lord we can receive this new spiritual life, forgiveness of our sins, and the removal of our guilt and the need to be punished, and the compulsion to repeat mistakes and we can now live in the confident hope of Heaven in our future.

B. To Live in the love of Jesus is to stay in this loving close relationship with him.

To His devoted people God said, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” – Jeremiah 31:3

“Love God with all…” – Matthew 22:37-40

Having received salvation and love from God, we now give the best of our love to God every day. We live in wholehearted devotion to God. We attach ourselves to God through His love. In this way we receive love, share love, and give love. Here we find ultimate spiritual love, safety, and security.

Jesus’ model of prayer (the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:5-14) can guide our relationship time with God and help us stay in the love of Jesus.

II. What should we do?

A. Daily consider what the love of Jesus means to you personally. “Remain in my love,” – John 15:9 Reflect on the truth of what the love of Jesus is. Daily take time and energy to receive the love of Jesus for you.

B. Spend time and energy to be with Jesus, available for His influence, receiving his love. “Remain in me, and I will remain in you” – John 15:4

What should we be thinking about (to make this a loving reality)?

1. What is helping your loving relationship with Jesus?

2. What is hurting or crowding your loving relationship with Jesus?

Responding to, “abide/stay/remain in My love,” we must ask, “What takes us out of it?”

“Life Hack” shortcut principle of spiritual practices that can be helpful.

“One filter to use in examining your day involves looking for moments of what Ignatius Loyal called “consolation” – times of moving toward God. The opposite is “desolation” – times of moving away from God. What activities or moments drew you closer to God or sparked an awareness of his presence? And are there activities that regularly distract you from the any sense of God? Being more aware of both of these movements can help us live with greater intentionality and aid us in developing a continual communion with him. The practice of examen sometimes uses a series of questions to uncover deeper feelings we accumulate during the day. For example, as you play back the events of the day like a video in your mind, ask yourself, ‘Where was I most ___ today?’ (Fill in the blank with alive, peaceful, loved, sad, grateful, etc.) Allow these questions to prompt prayers of thanksgiving, confession, or petition.

Desolation – the sense of God’s absence

When, today, did I sense being drawn away from God?

When did I feel most dissatisfied and restricted today?

Was there any time today when I felt discouraged?

What was the most draining part of my day?”

– Skye Jethani With: Reimagining the Way You Relate to God

Are we allowing anything, any hurt, any discouragement, any frustration, any anger to hinder a wholehearted loving relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ? Recall our December 31st message, “Give your Cares to God” for important clarification. Increase what is helping your loving relationship with Jesus, and decrease what is hurting or crowding your relationship with Jesus. Your fellow Jesus followers can be helpful in this area.

Book Recommendations:

Where is God when it Hurts? – Philip Yancey

Walking with God through Pain and Suffering – Timothy Keller

Disappointment with God – Philip Yancey

C. Listen to the loving Jesus. “my words remain in you,” – John 15:7 (pray the words of Jesus)

D. Walking out your spiritual life in community (out in the open) so that they may encourage your decisions to grow closer to Jesus. “Love each other in the same way I have loved you.” John 15:12