Topic: Staying In His Love [Sunday January 22, 2017]
Text: John 15:9-17
Key Verse: “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love” (John 15:10).
There are times it appears that some people within an organization tend to enjoy the favour and attention of the leader above others within the same group. The reason for this is very simple. It is usually because such people are found to be loyal and obedient. Nothing endears a child to the love and affection of the parents more than obedience and submission.
This is not a matter of favouritism or nepotism but a natural order. Nobody will want to continue to shower affection and favour on a stubborn and rebellious person. Even in a family, parents get fed up with stubborn, disobedient and an incorrigible child. Jesus, in our text, tells us that obeying the commandments of God is the secret of staying within His love. There are times when some people doubt if God really loves them. They want to know the secret of enjoying God’s love and having His favour. At times, when they see how God blesses and favours their fellow, they wonder why they are not enjoying such favour.
Why are they not having speedy answers to prayers? Is it that God is partial? The answer is obviously no. If we are going to stay in His love and enjoy His loving care and favour, then we must keep His commandments. What commandment does God want us to keep in order to continue to enjoy His love and favour? It is very simple. It is to love Him absolutely and to love our neighbours as ourselves. In fact, the natural evidence that we love God is that we want to obey Him.
And if we love our fellow men, we will not want to hurt them. How do you fare in keeping these commandments? Are there things or people you love more than God that make you disobey and displease Him? Then, there is no way you can enjoy the full benefits of His love. Set things right from today. Make up your mind to love God absolutely and obey Him in everything and you will see how He will continue to lavish His love on you.
Thought for the day: To stay in His love, you must obey His Word.
Bible Reading in one Year: Acts 18-19
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
