John 15:12-17
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
Reflection
Jesus defines the life of abiding (John 15:1–11) as a life of love (vv. 12–17). This love begins with Christ’s love for us —“I have loved you” (v. 12). We cannot earn Jesus’ love; it is given freely and generously by the God of grace. This same gracious love is now our responsibility to others—“you love one another” (v. 12). We must remember, however, that our obedience to this command merits nothing, even though it brings great good to the world. Because we are motivated by Christ’s amazing grace, his commands are not burdensome. The radical grace of the gospel transforms servanthood into friendship (v. 15). Only grace can free us to obey Jesus out of friendship and worship, and no longer out of fear or self-interest.
James 1:12-18
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Reflection
God intends trials to strengthen us, but some say trials tempt them to sin, and they blame God for it. But temptation only entices us when we desire the sin (James 1:13–15). Rather than tempting us, God wants to give good gifts to us, one of them being new birth by “the word of truth”—that is, the gospel (v. 18; cf. Eph. 1:13; Col. 1:5–6). God does not cause us to sin; he rescues us from the power of sin by transforming us into newly born creatures through the message of his grace to us in Christ (James 1:18). Rather than being ruled by our desire for sin (vv. 14–15), those who have experienced this new birth can resist the power of sin because of a new, superior desire for Jesus and his glory (Rom. 6:17; 2 Cor. 4:6).
Psalm 119:35
35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.
When the Holy Spirit changes our hearts, the commandments of Christ become a delight. Pray that Christ’s commands and ways would be increasingly beautiful to you and your church fellowship.