John 15:1-17

     What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus Christ? How should a Christian be different from others? Jesus taught that the supreme command of God was to love God and love your neighbor as yourself. LOVE. Love should mark the life of a Christian. Following Jesus Christ means living a life of love.

     But how can I do this? Jesus gave the best guideline in what we call the golden rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Treat people the way you want to be treated. Observe people and their situation and mentally put yourself in their place. What do you need? How would you like to be treated?

     No, really, HOW CAN I DO THIS? How, as in how can I make myself do this, or how can I have the strength to do this. Great question. For the answer, read today's Scripture.

     Jesus says that the love we show in our lives comes from HIM. It is like he is a vine, and we are branches. We don't have our own roots and get our own strength. Our nourishment and strength (and in this case, love) flows from the vine. We get what we need from Jesus. We don't try to love people on our own or in our own strength, we put our effort into maintaining our relationship with Jesus and he will love people through us. He will put into our hearts leadings to serve people. He will give us compassion for others. That is why Galatians 5:22 calls love a "fruit of the Spirit".

     Love is a result of the Spirit's work in us. It is not something we work up on our own. That is why Christian love is supernatural. That is why love is such a witness to the reality of Jesus Christ: because it is not from US. It is from HIM.

     OK, so the question becomes "How do I maintain my relationship with Jesus?" Good question. Let me mention a couple of things.

     First, read John 15. The imagery Jesus uses of the relationship between him and the believer is that of a vine and its branches. He presses the image and asks what would happen if a branch cut itself off from the vine. It would lose its nourishment, is the answer. This is the basic thing. Don't do things you know will cut off your relationship with Jesus.

     Second, choose to "abide" or remain in Jesus. Do things that will build your relationship with him: pray, read the Bible, worship, serve. And in the course of your life, in your thoughts, words, actions, choices, relationships, always choose the way of Jesus. You will know when you must choose. And you will know what the right choice is. Take the right choice. Stay with Jesus. And He will nourish and strengthen you to live a life of love.