A Love-Filled Life

A few weeks ago we talked about living a life of loyalty. Last week we talked about living our lives trusting God. Today let's talk about a life that's filled with love. In every case, whether it be loyalty, trust, or love, we have to have some sort of experience in order to appreciate it more.

Some things just can't be done without some level of experience. Imagine trying to bake a cake when you've never seen a cake or tasted one. Imagine being told to quarterback a professional football game when you've never watched a game of football. No amount of discipline will get a cake out of your oven if you don't have some concept of a cake. There's no secret force that is going to move your team down the field if you don't know what a football is.

This same concept applies to living a life of love. You've heard me preach about love in most every sermon I have preached. But today, we're going to see Jesus's command for us to love and to what extent we are to love.

Most people see the value of this command, but do we really know what love is? A lot of times we think of love as being simply the support of others. People tend to look for affirmation of the identity that they want to achieve, but is that really love? Is it real love? Jesus truly wants us to taste and see His love. Because it is only then that we can love one another as Jesus intended.

So just what is love? Love is defined as a set of emotions and behaviors characterized by intimacy, passion, and commitment. Love involves care, closeness, protection, attraction, affection, and trust. Love can vary in intensity and can change over time. So, let's listen closely today as Jesus explains to us His concept of what love truly is and what He meant it to be. (PRAYER)

Love should bring us joy. Who doesn't want joy? Everyone does. And that's why, for many of us, Jesus's statement in John 15:11 is such a favorite passage. Jesus said, “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” That is a powerful statement. Your joy may be complete. Who doesn't want complete joy? We all do. Let’s look at the verses together beginning in verse 9.

John 15:9-11 – “Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; remain in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

Jesus is telling us that He is the source for abundant joy. Joy. We don't just want joy. We are almost desperate to have it. For too many, the search for complete joy is an exhausting and almost impossible pursuit.

Now I haven't been in your house and snooping around in your closets, but you might have a closet full of supplies from all the hobbies you've tried out and then forgotten, hoping that one of them would fill some empty spot in your life. Or maybe you check your bank account three times a day hoping that you might see a more satisfying sum on the bottom line. Skydivers even jump out of planes for the thrill and pursuit of joy. And then there are cross-fitters, those who pursue fitness to the extreme and seem to pursue joy by pursuing misery.

Everyone wants complete joy. And Jesus wants us to have it. That's why He calls us to dwell in Him and obey Him. He says in verse 10, if you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in His love. In other words, when we do what Jesus has called us to do, we experience His love and joy over and over again. And that is complete joy.

But I think some people question whether complete joy is even possible. But God lovingly created us to live in joy. Jesus pointed the way to experiencing this joy, and it's found in three words that he used in this passage.

-Love. Jesus said “remain in my love.” His love is the key to our joy. That really makes sense when we remember what Jesus's love is like. Jesus came to earth because of His love for us. He came to teach us of the Father's Love and to express that love through His actions and miracles. He openly showed us love in His response to our sin. In His love for us, Jesus took all our wickedness on Himself. He was nailed to a cross. He died. He was buried behind a boulder. Because of His love for us, He came out of the tomb and wasn't dead anymore so that we could have victory. That is love.