DAILY DEVOTIONAL: FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2020
SCRIPTURE READING
John 15:9a (KJV) As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you:
You remember this is Jesus speaking, right? One of Jesus’ twelve disciples was named John. He is the one who wrote down this account of Jesus’ life we call the Gospel of John. Here in this chapter, he has written out what Jesus said one time about being a vine and His disciples being His branches.
Now, here, Jesus is teaching His disciples—including John—that He loves them just as the Father loves Him.
Here’s what Jesus said: “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you.” Who is “the Father?”
“The Father” is the God we pray to saying, “Our Father, Who art in Heaven.” “The Father” is the God we confess in our statement of faith saying, “I believe in God the Father Almighty.”
He is not a Father. He is not just Jesus’ Father. He is “The Father.” All fatherhood starts with Him. He is The Father I must emulate.
Do you know what “emulate means?” It means He is The Father I am to copy if I want to be any father at all. Only when I resemble God THE Father am I worthy of this precious name “Father” you call me.
Now here Jesus says the Father loved Him. Why did the Father love Jesus?
Because Jesus is His Son. Fathers love their daughters. Fathers love their sons. I love you.
Then Jesus tells the disciples that He loves them the way His Father loves Him.
Why do you think Jesus told His disciples that His Father loved Him and He loved them?
The disciples went through hard things being with Jesus and they needed Jesus to tell them He loved them.
Do you need your father to tell you that he loves you?
Scripture: John 15:9a (KJV) As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you:
QUESTIONS
- Who is a father?
- Who is The Father?
- Who loved Jesus while He suffered here on earth?
SONG OF THE WEEK
Like a River Glorious
Like a river glorious
Is God’s perfect peace,
Over all victorious
In its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth
Fuller ev’ry day,
Perfect, yet it groweth
Deeper all the way.
Stayed upon Jehovah,
Hearts are fully blest,
Finding, as he promised,
Perfect peace and rest.
Hidden in the hollow
Of his blessed hand,
Never foe can follow,
Never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry,
Not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry
Touch the spirit there.
Stayed upon Jehovah,
Hearts are fully blest,
Finding, as he promised,
Perfect peace and rest.
Ev’ry joy or trial
Falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial
By the Sun of Love.
We may trust him fully
All for us to do;
They who trust him wholly
Find him wholly true.
Stayed upon Jehovah,
Hearts are fully blest,
Finding, as he promised,
Perfect peace and rest.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Gracious Father, Who has loved me in Christ and owned me as Your child—Me! a sinner, orphan, and rebel—Who also makes the Holy Spirit to cry out within me, “Abba, Father” at every remembrance of You, cause me to return this wonderful love to You with my whole heart, mind, soul, and strength, and make it also to overflow to my family, friends, and neighbors, even as You command. Amen.
SCRIPTURE MEMORY THIS WEEK
John 15:5-6 (KJV)
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
