John 14:15-21 (NRSV)
Read John 14:15-21 on biblegateway.com
Verse 15"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. Verse 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. Verse 17This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.
Verse 18"I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. Verse 19In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. Verse 20On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Verse 21They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them."
Devotion
In light of our own power, how hopeless these words appear; how impossible it is to obey the commands of Jesus. In light of the Holy Spirit’s power, how blessed these words appear; how possible it is to obey the commands of Jesus. Saved by grace, we remember that “we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV). Gifted by the Spirit with new obedience, we love Jesus, and are in turn loved by the Father. Jesus accordingly loves us and reveals to us himself, our Master whom we lovingly obey.
Prayer
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, forgive us for not obeying your commands. Empower us to remember your commands and obey them, doing the good works you have already prepared for us. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to love you and be loved by you, our Lord. Amen.