“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love” (Jn.15:9). “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins…” (Rev.1:5).
Lord Jesus, the tenses and implications of your love for us are stunning, liberating, and transforming. The past tense of your loves reaches back into eternity and was boldly demonstrated at the cross. The present tense of your love is unwavering and never ending. The implications of your love? It’s hard to drink in the reality of us already being freed from the penalty of sin, the power of sin—and one Day, the very presence of sin. Only topping that is to realize you love us to the same degree, and with the same delight, as the Father loves you. Hallelujah, and thank you.
No wonder you command us to “abide” in your love—to make your love our permanent address, the air we breathe, the bread we consume, the sheets between we sleep. What a fabulous address… “777 Jesus’ Steadfast Love”—the grace-haven where we can play, pray, process heartache, prostrate ourselves in adoring love, and pursue deeper fellowship with you.
But we can just as easily choose (or default) to reside rent free in our fears, resentment, regrets, foolishness, comparisons, unbelief, anger, envy—and many other “addresses” The front-end rent may be free in these various “abodes,” but the eventual cost is heart-cancer and death to faith, hope, and love. Jesus, since your love is “better than life” itself, we choose to marinate, linger, abide, live, work, and play right there. Thank you. So VERY Amen.