Loved to Love

John 15:9 revealed God not only loved the world, He loved me. Jesus says to His disciples, "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love." Just as the Father loved His Son, Jesus loves me the same way.

The secret to abiding in God's love is found in the next few verses. "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. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:10, 12)

As I love others, as I have been loved, I will abide in the love of God. As a husband and father, my primary responsibilities are to love God, my wife, and my sons. I am writing as a man and sharing how God has led me to begin applying these principles in our home. But these principles are applicable to every believer.

The fruit of loving others as we have been loved will not only bless each of our homes, but our communities as well. "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34)

As family members pray for one another, bear each other's burdens, lay their lives down for each other, and learn to love one another as Jesus has loved them, they are transformed and become more like Jesus.