2 May 2013 - remain

2 May 2013 - remain

Remain in my love.

This statement is a little challenging.  It sounds as if there is a possibility of stepping completely outside of his love.  What help would there be for us if we did that?  But that isn't what he means here, exactly.  He loves us and dies for us while we are still sinners (cf. Rom 5:8).  He loves us always and there is nothing we can do about it.  So what does it mean to remain in his love?

First, let us hear the word again.  Remain.  His love is the starting point from which we can continue with him or run from him.  He allows the effectiveness of his love in us to be limited or blocked by our own free will.  We have to choose to accept his love.  We do this by obedience.

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.

Note that Jesus doesn't complain about the necessity of obedience to the Father.  He doesn't say "I am God from God, and coequal so I need not obey."  He knows that commandments, while firm, aren't burdensome.  They are life giving.  We  ourselves often fall prey to self deception and the commandments protect us.  They hold up the standard of love so that we may not settle for less.    Jesus actually takes joy in obedience to the Father.  It is how he shows his love for him.  And he wants us to know this joy as well.

“I have told you this so that
my joy might be in you and
your joy might be complete.”

This love between the Father and the Son is the Holy Spirit.  So we have no power to share that love without sharing in the Holy Spirit.  But let us remember again the word remain.  He initiates.  We respond.   The transforming power of the Holy Spirit is actually so amazing that it is literally a visible witness to others who see it in us.

And God, who knows the heart,
bore witness by granting them the Holy Spirit
just as he did us.

If we haven't experienced the power of the Holy Spirit in that way or even if it has been a while since we have we need just ask (cf. Luk 11:13). The Father and the Son delight to pour the Spirit upon us.  They want us to join with the psalmist in singing:

Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.

And in doing so our very lives become witnesses to the whole world.

Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.