Commanding Love

John 15, 9-17

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

Pasted from <http://www.sacredspace.ie/dailyprayer.jsp?lang=en&date=24&month=1&year=2007&version=full>


Somehow or another it just doesn't seem right to talk about commandments and love in the same sentence. We've all heard the expression, "If you love something set it free and if it truly loves you it will come back to you." This passage seems to be counterintuitive to that kind of love. Let's look more closely at the connections between love and commandments found in the passage.

Father has loved me (Jesus)
I (Jesus) have loved you
Abide in my love…(How do we abide?)
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love
Just as I (Jesus) have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.

What does abide mean?

Definition of abide (verb)
forms: abided; abided; abiding
to comply; to obey; to submit; to conform; to stay; to live; to tolerate; to continue; to tolerate; to wait

Pasted from <http://www.english-test.net/toeic/vocabulary/words/209/toeic-definitions.php>

It seems to suggest that abiding is an active thing to do--it's not a complacent thing. It involves obedience, submission, conformity. It involves remaining and continuing to experience the thing in which we abide.

I am beginning to think that there is a much stronger connection between love and commandments. To abide in the love of God implies a giving up of self and a turning towards God's will for our lives. When this happens, then God's love will be with us and we will be in God's love. At least that's what it seems to be saying to me. What do you think about the passage and its meaning for your life?