Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional “Love God, Love People” for Thursday, 6 November 2014 - Scripture: John 14:15-31

Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional “Love God, Love People” for Thursday, 6 November 2014 - Scripture: John 14: The Spirit of Truth
15-17 “If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can’t take him in because it doesn’t have eyes to see him, doesn’t know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!
18-20 “I will not leave you orphaned. I’m coming back. In just a little while the world will no longer see me, but you’re going to see me because I am alive and you’re about to come alive. At that moment you will know absolutely that I’m in my Father, and you’re in me, and I’m in you.
21 “The person who knows my commandments and keeps them, that’s who loves me. And the person who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and make myself plain to him.”
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said, “Master, why is it that you are about to make yourself plain to us but not to the world?”
23-24 “Because a loveless world,” said Jesus, “is a sightless world. If anyone loves me, he will carefully keep my word and my Father will love him—we’ll move right into the neighborhood! Not loving me means not keeping my words. The message you are hearing isn’t mine. It’s the message of the Father who sent me.
25-27 “I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.
28 “You’ve heard me tell you, ‘I’m going away, and I’m coming back.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I’m on my way to the Father because the Father is the goal and purpose of my life.
29-31 “I’ve told you this ahead of time, before it happens, so that when it does happen, the confirmation will deepen your belief in me. I’ll not be talking with you much more like this because the chief of this godless world is about to attack. But don’t worry—he has nothing on me, no claim on me. But so the world might know how thoroughly I love the Father, I am carrying out my Father’s instructions right down to the last detail.
“Get up. Let’s go. It’s time to leave here.”
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” [and . . .] “Love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no commandment greater than these.(Mark 12:30-31 (NIV))
Worship at the campground brought those who attended closer together in the name of Jesus. Our surroundings were simple. We had no fancy pews, sound equipment, or lighting. Many denominations were represented. We gathered together because we loved God and were thankful for Jesus Christ.
While living the Christian life is difficult — even risky — what it means to be a Christian is actually quite simple: we are called to love the Lord our God and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are called to love the Lord our God and to love our neighbors as ourselves. When we love God, we want to know God better and to develop a stronger, more personal relationship with the Lord. The more we work on our relationship with God, the more the Holy Spirit works in us to make us the people God wants us to be. The more we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us, the more we love other people. If all Christians strive to love God and people, think of the amazing things we can do to further God’s kingdom and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Author: Bev Hurlburt (Ohio, USA)
Thought for the Day: Love God; love people.
Prayer: Dear God, when our lives get complicated, remind us to focus on the simplicity of your message to love you and our neighbors. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Prayer focus: Christian camp ministries
____________________________