I once asked myself this question: "Why did the Lord Jesus Christ put the referenced Scripture forward as a suggestion?" That is, "If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love..."? This is because we must desire that level of spiritual fulfilment. A surprising number of God's children have not truly desired this level in Christ.
Why? One of the reasons is because they have gone through tests and trials, in which they indulged in expression of conditioned "reluctance" to settle in the realm of divine love through their inactive responses towards applying the Word in such adverse or challenging situations.
This is the reason "keeping His commandments and obeying His teaching" is a prerequisite for abiding in Christ's love. Remember that walking divine love is not by force but by deliberate longing; hence the suggestion is simply designed for those who truly desire to know and to remain in the love, by acting on His Word. More below!
Reference: John 15:10 Amplified Bible (AMP)
"If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and remain in His love."
In 1st Corinthians 13:13, Paul the apostle says, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love" (NIV). The love of Christ is the greatest asset and advantage we have received, not our faith or hope. Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love for us...(NIV), not His faith nor His hope."
So the highest demonstration of Divine love brought about the work of reconciliation, meaning that Christ Jesus did not die to save us as a result of His strong faith or hope, but as a result of His everlasting love. For this reason, He reveals to us that the mode in which we can remain effective in His love - is by acting on His words.
You can have a strong faith and even excel in hope beyond any human expectation, but to remain in the love of Christ requires a noble reinforcement.
Zero wonder Paul made his request on behalf of the saints in Ephesus in this manner: "I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:16-19 NIV).
Paul's prayer above is focused on being rooted and established in the love of Christ, so we may have the power to grasp the love's width, length, depth and height, as well as gain access to accurate knowledge of the love.
Beloved, the knowledge of Christ's love surpasses everything I will or have ever experienced in my life, and this includes my desires, hopes, aims, general knowledge, and capabilities. Why so? It is due to the height, width, length and depth of the love's efficacious influence - based on Christ's self-sacrificing atonement.
However, you can't walk in, remain in, and discover the dimensions of His love by your own strength. It can only be possible by the enabling influence of God's Spirit, meaning that we must fill our lives with His divine power in order to stir up such desire. This is the reason Paul prayed for the Ephesians to experience the possibility through the strengthening power of the Spirit at work in their inward being. Stay tuned for part 6. Shalom!
Scripture Reading - John 3:16; Romans 5:7-8; 1 John 4:7-12; Romans 8:35-39.
Guided Prayer:
Gracious heavenly Father, I'm totally filled and consumed with the power of your love because of Christ's obedience to the point of death on the cross, and the effect of this love produces peace, joy, goodness and gratitude in my life. Therefore, I live a fulfilled life today and always, in your wisdom, righteousness, and glory in Jesus' Name, Amen.
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