“I love you, man!”
It was a trivial line in an advertising campaign for a beer company in the mid-90s. The thrust of the commercial was taking the idea of bumming a beer from a friend to a new level. The guy would confess his love for his buddies so they would give him a beer.
It was a wildly successful marketing campaign, but it probably demonstrates how shallow our love really can be. “I love you,” but only because I will get something in return. In other words, “I love you only because you give me something.” Hardly admirable, right?
John 15 occurs as an extension of the conversation Jesus was having with His closest followers at the Last Supper (the final meal He would share with them before the crucifixion). As Jesus changes the subject, He returns to a familiar topic for His conversation with His inner circle.
Jesus continues in John 15:9-11
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 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. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
John 15:9-11
New International Version
Too many of us are too influenced by our culture that says, “If it feels good, do it because boundaries are detrimental to your humanity.”
This isn’t the message of Scripture. Instead, Scripture consistently teaches that obedience to the Lord brings lasting joy. Psalm 19:8 sings, “The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.”
Search as we can for something else to bring us lasting joy, we will find ourselves empty, but the Lord’s ways are the path to blessing. Perhaps it will not always be a happy path, but it will be a joyful and peaceful path. Happiness comes and goes, but the joy of the Lord is eternal.
Building a bridge of love vertically means being obedient to Him. Jesus says in verse 10, “if you keep my commands, you will remain in my love.” When saying “keep,” Jesus is using a Greek word meaning “to persist in obedience” and to “consistently fulfill a law or teaching.” The emphasis in this word is persistent or consistent. To “keep” the Lord’s commands is to be persistent and consistent.
When I was in Junior High, my dad would take me to the occasional “5th Sunday singing.” Most of you might not be familiar with that, but back in the day, congregations out in the country would get together on 5th Sunday nights to sing the old gospel songs from (in my experience) “The Heavenly Highway Hymns” book.
There was this one song that, when I heard it, stopped me. And they sang it enough for me to remember it after all these years. Here are the lyrics:
Ain’t it a shame to work on Sunday, Ain’t it a shame a working shame.
Ain’t it a shame to work on Sunday, Ain’t it a shame a working shame.
Ain’t it a shame to work on Sunday.
When you got Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and you got Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, ain’t it a shame.Ain’t it a shame to lie on Sunday, Ain’t it a shame a lying shame.
“Ain’t It a Shame”
Ain’t it a shame to lie on Sunday, Ain’t it a shame a lying shame.
Ain’t it a shame to lie on Sunday.
When you got Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and you got Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, ain’t it a shame.
W.M. Mosley
© 1920 Stamps-Baxter Music
Did you catch that? You have Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday to sin—just don’t do it on Sunday! WHAT IN THE WORLD?!
That’s not persistently and consistently fulfilling the Lord’s teaching. We don’t build a bridge of love vertically by being a Christian on Sunday and living like the devil Monday through Saturday. We’re just lying to ourselves and living hypocritically before those around us.
Jesus said, “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love” (verse 10). When Jesus says “remain,” He means “live, dwell, or lodge.” It makes sense, right? If we are persistently and consistently living in obedience to the Lord’s command, then we will live in the love of the Lord.
Obedience to the Lord has its privileges. And one of those “privileges” is joy.
Jesus said (verse 11), “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” Do you want to be fulfilled in your life? Build up the vertical bridge of love.
Do you want to stop being sidetracked by the same sin in your life? Build up the vertical bridge of love.
Do you want to live the victorious life you notice other Christians have? Build up the vertical bridge of love.
You see, my brother or sister in Jesus, obedience is the condition of remaining in Jesus’ love. And our love for Jesus causes the desire to obey, and our obedience demonstrates the reality of that love.
Are you building a bridge of love vertically between you and your Heavenly Father?
Life Meets Theology 