Forgiven to Forgive

John 15:1-12

Jesus gave a powerful instruction on prayer when He prayed “The Lord’s Prayer” (Matthew 6:9-13). Toward the end of this prayer is the emphasis on forgiveness. The forgiveness I extend to my brother, and the forgiveness I receive from God, are connected. Simply, if I don’t forgive my brother then I can’t expect forgiveness from God. John, in his Gospel account, gives us additional teaching on this. He gives us the Parable of the Vine and the Branch (John 15:1-12). It is describing the oneness we are to have with God. It speaks of the top priority of my life – oneness with God. Jesus says that He is the vine and we are the branches. The branch and the vine are entwined together. You cannot tell where one leaves off and the other begins. And yet they are both separate and different. The branch looks like a little vine. It has the bark of the vine, and it bears the fruit of the vine. It is not the vine yet they are still together as one. How can we experience that kind of a relationship with Jesus?

As we begin to read the passage, the word abide or remain seems to be the key. How can I remain in Jesus? “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love” (John 15:9). Oneness with God is connected with remaining (abiding), and remaining is connected to His love. How can I continue in His love? By keeping His commandment (John 15:10). What is His commandment? “My commandment is this: Love each other as I have loved you” (John 15:12). Oneness with God hangs on my oneness with others. I cannot love God without loving others. It is what we looked at on Sunday as we looked at the greatest commandment.

Let me lay this out to you. You are to love the person who cut in front of you as you were driving to work. You are to love the person who took the cart from you at Wal-Mart. You are to love the person who hurt you many years ago. You are to love your husband for better or for worse. It’s not a multiple choice answer. I had to throw that in there. I guess it applies to husbands loving their wives as well. You are to love that person who continues to turn their back on you when you did nothing to deserve it. Are you getting the message? God has attached Himself to each one of those scenarios. My intense love for God will give me the desire and strength to love the unlovable in my life.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:46-48, “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Jesus is calling you to be perfect as He is. The only way we can do that is to remain in Him and allow Him to spill out of us in every situation. I believe you can live that way today. If Jesus said it, then you can do it. Read John 15:1-17 today and allow the Lord to speak to you.

This Sunday is Mother’s Day. Don’t forget to cherish the one who brought you into this world. Come to worship this weekend with great anticipation that God will begin a new work in you. May the God of peace fill your hearts with joy and peace today as you prove to the world that Jesus is alive and living in you.

Joy in Jesus!

Pastor Mike

www.findlayfirstnaz.org