“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” John 15:9
Lord Jesus, how can it be? How is it possible you love us just as much as the Father loves you? That’s exactly what you affirm in this verse. You love us to the same degree with the same delight for the same eternity as Abba, Father loves you.
And thank you for commanding us to “abide” in your love—to make your love our permanent abode: Our main dwelling space, our tiny house with mercy-wheels, our Gulfstream of Grace. Even more so, we want your love to be the very air we breathe, our bread and water, the sheets between we sleep, and the clothes we wear into the boardroom, playroom, and every room.
Jesus, pour the miracle-grow of your Spirit on us. It’s the only way we’ll grow a greater understanding and experience of the “length and width, height and depth” of your love (Eph. 3:18). Otherwise, we’re likely to default to abiding in other abodes that don’t give life; they take it.
There’s a whole village of fears with unlocked doors welcoming us: The fears of not being enough or having enough, the fears of loss and loneliness, the fears of missing out or not being missed at all. And there’s always a new subdivision going up with plenty of anger apartments, comparison condos, brooding bungalows, criticism cottages, and residences of resentment. (Yep, it’s as bad as it sounds.)
Most loving Jesus whatever you command, you resource. Rescue us from abodes than rob us, and others, of heart and life. May we abide, marinate, linger, and live in your love. So Very Amen.