The Most Loving Person

John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

John 15: 8-17 “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also 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. “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. “You are My friends if you do what I command you. “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. “This I command you, that you love one another.

Who is the most loving person you have ever met? That is a hard question to answer. When we consider the Love of Christ, nobody comes close to measuring up, do they? Abiding in Christ is bearing much fruit. Jesus says, we are to “keep His commandments and to “abide in His love” and that if we are keeping His commandments, we will abide in His love. And then He says; “this is my commandment (singular) that you love one another, just as I have loved you” He then describes this love as; “laying down one’s life for his friends.” Have you seen any of this type of fruit hanging out there lately? No … me either. Well, there was Mother Teresa, but as loving and other-centered and Saintly as Mother Teresa was, it was not good enough … before you get upset … stop. I am convinced that Mother Teresa would be the first to tell you exactly the same thing. ”There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside; Together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.” Romans 3:10-12. I finished my previous post with: “much of what we would see as fruit from our human perspective would not likely qualify as fruit at all, from God’s perspective. We are likely to be confused, especially if we are given to judging others. “For Christ’s love compels us … so from now on, we regard no one from a worldly point of view.” 2 Corinthians” 5:14,16. I suggest you read; "Your Mission Is A Ministry” where we explore this in additional detail. We are Ambassadors for Christ with a Ministry of Reconciliation. How’s your ministry going? Certainly Mother Teresa was living this mission. But the righteousness the world saw in Mother Teresa was actually the Righteousness of Christ living through her. 2 Corinthians 5:21. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Jesus says; “abide in My love.” If you keep My commandments” ... and You might say; “there it is … that person has fallen from grace, or maybe he never knew Christ, since he does not keep His commandments.” His word also says; “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation): old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. We are ministers of reconciliation, not judges. Get off your high horse, before you fall and break your neck. What old things passed away? What things are become new? Well first of all; “Jesus died for all and therefore all died and the love of Christ controls or compels us and Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh or from a worldly point of view. We are to put on the mind of Christ. We have a new ministry. His righteousness is to live through us. Our only reason to look upon others is to allow Him to love them through us and to help them be reconciled, not judge them. This righteous walk is all about our position in Christ, not our earthly condition: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed, 2 Corinthians 4: 7-8. We need to be renewed with the truths that encourage us in the completeness we have as heirs of the most Holy Creator. We need to turn our eyes upon Jesus and his word will become reality in our daily walk: “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit.” Jesus is the one who will live in and through us. His righteousness in us. When we abide above with Jesus … following the whims, attitudes, habits, and temptations of our old man will quickly be repelled by the inward leading of the Holy Spirit. He will give us new priorities, new goals and a new concern for others that is foreign to our old man.

You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit. Think about that: Jesus chose and appointed you, before the beginning, to do His will and to accomplish His purpose. ... Wow. No longer does he call us servants or slaves because we are heirs, sons and brothers. And we know the truth because Jesus said: “I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.” We are spiritually positioned with Jesus in Heaven. We have remained here on a Heavenly mission. Faith in the vine brings forth fruit in the branches. His Holy Spirit guides us in His Heavenly purpose. Our role is to be responsible in our faith in Him and His finished work on the Cross and our position in His heavenly family. But make no mistake; this is not a license to leave the old man on the throne of your life … that would clearly be the way of a foolish young prince. We are to “prove to be His disciples as he lives out His love through us.” “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and Godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you. Titus 2:11-15 But, filter your words through the love of Christ. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

God Bless you my friends, Bob West
Pray to receive Christ as Savior