Listening

"As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. 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 spoken these things to you that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends." John 15:9-13

 Now we come to the crux of the matter. Jesus is here telling us how to stay in Him so that we can ask anything in His name. Just as he obeyed His Father, listened to Him and stayed connected He is telling us to do the same.

The real test for us lies in loving others just as He loved us. Ouch! This is easy with those who love us and are good to us, but what about those who betray us, as Judas did Christ? He also commanded us to love our enemies, that pretty much covers everyone.

Think of that person who is constantly criticising you, abusing you, rejecting you. Can you find love for that person? In myself I can't but if I am in Christ I must let His love flow to that person.

Do you think that loving a person is a particular act? For example cleaning up their house? It might be a good idea to ask them first. I found out by first hand experience that this was taken as interfering and not appreciated.

So what does love look like? What does each person need? What do they want or desire? The first act of love is to listen, really listen and then ask to confirm what you heard is right, because sometimes you stop hearing before you should. We are so quick to run on in our own understanding.