No one has greater love than this—that one lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.
Into the Text
When we abide in Jesus, we are connected to Him in such a way that His love can now become our love. True love isn’t passive; it’s a choice to give of ourselves in ways that cost us something. It might be our time, attention, or our resources. Real love, the kind that Jesus commands, is sacrificial. It’s the willingness to lay down our lives for the sake of someone else.
Loving others this way is both a privilege and a challenge. It’s a privilege because it’s how we reflect Jesus to the world, showing the beauty of His love. But it’s also a challenge because it calls us beyond comfort and into places of surrendering and service. That’s especially tough for us who live in an age of “entitlement,” where everyone seems to be obsessed with their own rights and their own wellbeing.
When we abide in Christ, we may ask Him to make our dry hearts be so filled with His love that we can overflow with love to those around us. This is how we remain in His love—by letting His love move through us to bless and uplift others.
The more we abide in Jesus, the more our lives reflect His love in action. We become more patient, more compassionate, and more willing to give even when it’s hard. And in that giving, we discover the joy and purpose of living a life that glorifies Him. Abiding in Christ means loving as He loved—faithfully, selflessly, and with a heart that desires to obey.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, thank you for your sacrificial love. Help me to abide in you each day so that your love can flow through me to others. Teach me to love with a heart that gives and serves. Amen.