Transformed – teen devotion – May 5, 2024
One truth shared: Remain in Jesus’ love as you love other people.
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
John 15:9, 12-13
Love Each Other
The story is told of a mother who was walking down the street with her two little girls one day. Each girl held mommy’s hand as they strolled down the sidewalk in their quaint little Alaskan hometown. It was just another day surrounded by beautiful scenery in a beautiful location . . . until they turned the corner. Suddenly a massive grizzly bear charged out of the woods at the three of them. Without hesitation, the mother pushed the girls to the side and took on the bear, knowing she was outmatched and about to be mauled to pieces.
Stories like this are moving. What selfless and self-sacrificing love! We could imagine most parents would do the same for their children. But would you do that? Would you lay down your life for someone else? Maybe a family member or someone you deeply love. But what about the classmate who spread rumors about you on social media last week . . . what about the school bully . . . what about a criminal who did evil things and now is in jail for life? Would you die for any of them?
Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” The remarkable fact of God’s love is that Jesus died for all people of all time—even the worst of sinners, which includes you and me.
In John 15, Jesus is talking about that incredible, selfless, self-sacrificing love that he has for us. He gives multiple examples of that love in these verses as he spoke to his disciples. These words also describe how Jesus loves us. Jesus laid down his life for us. Jesus calls us his friends, even though he is true God and we are mere humans. We didn’t choose him, but he chose us. All of these things reveal the extraordinary love that Jesus has for us, even though we are sinners!
Jesus’ love is not just a one-time thing of the past though. His love is life changing! Two repeated phrases tell us what Jesus wants us to do next: remain in his love and love each other. Jesus wants nothing more than for us to stay inside the protecting bubble of his love, constantly reassured of his forgiveness and care for us. And then, Jesus wants us to love other people in the same way that he has loved us.
This week, look for ways you can “remain in his love.” Don’t miss opportunities for Bible reading, devotions, prayer, and worship. Then, look for specific ways and specific people that you can show the love of Jesus’ too. His love has been life changing for us, and it certainly will be life changing for others!
Prayer: Loving Savior, your love for me is beyond what I can comprehend, but it means everything to me. Help me to remain in your love and to appreciate it with a glad and joyful heart. Then help your love to spill over in me in the ways that I love other people. Amen.
