John 15:16-17
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit-fruit that will last- and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. That is my command: Love each other.
This verse gives me so much hope and so much peace when it comes to the world and stepping out in faith. We are called to be uncomfortable and to step out and stand out in the world even when that time seems impossible. The parable of the vine and branches has one goal in mind, to love Jesus and love others as Jesus loves you. it ends by simply saying, “ this is my command: Love each other.”
When I read this passage in John it is so easy to laugh it off and say yeah I can do that but when you look at the situation that Jesus is facing and realize what is about to take place it makes me freeze. Jesus is telling us to love people no matter what and he is about to be killed. Three chapters after Jesus tells us to love each other He is arrested.
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This week I finished my thirteen-week study over the book of Revelation and it was absolutely life-changing. Before reading and studying this book I just thought that it was the scary book that told the story of the end of the world. The book that told us we all fall short and that the end times are to be feared. But it is SO much more!!
The book of Revelation taught me what it meant to fear Christ and to have unshakable hope in a hurting world. David Platt described Revelation as, “The book that is not intended to promote hopeless speculation about the future, but is intended to fuel hopeful obedience in the present.”
The book of Revelation was written to give unshakable hope to persecuted Christians all over the world. The book of Revelation shows that their suffering will end and be rewarded and that everything that they are working for will be fulfilled.
The number one thing that I learned from studying the book of Revelation is to fearlessly proclaim the good news of the gospel. Our lives are secure by the name of God and there is absolutely nothing in this world that can touch us, hurt us, attack us, or kill us without it being within the will of God. We will ALWAYS be safe in the name of God. Satan is subordinate and on a leash to God. He can do NOTHING without God.
We are called to suffer in the name of Jesus. Our calling in this life is to lay down our own life for the gospel no matter the cost. During my study, David Platt said this, “do not be afraid of man taking your earthly life. Fear the one who can take your eternal life. The worst thing that man can do to you is kill you… God has you sealed for billions of years to come. You are safe!” After he said this he moved onto the next thing like that was a casual thing to say. Like hey just so you know, the worst thing that they can do is kill you, so you’re good man don’t worry about it. Like what?! That is so deep!! The amount of faith that you have to have in God just to even say that is unbelievable!! Having so much faith in Jesus and the great commission that not even death can stop you is a driving force that EVERY Christ follower needs!
Jesus loved us so much that not even death could hold Him down. He died and rose again for us. We are called to a life of loving people no matter the cost to us. We as Christians need to stand out in this world and fearlessly proclaim the gospel to any and everybody that we come into contact with.
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Key takeaway:
1. love people.
2. Fearlessly spread the word of God.
3. Our God wins.
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I hope that this helped some of you as much as it helped me. Reading and hearing that we are secure in the name of God and not even death can stop us gives me more hope than I could dream of.
if you are interested in this study it is called Revelation by David Platt. I did this study on rightnow Media but I’m sure you can find it on his website or on youtube (if you can’t find it then please email me and I’ll send you the series).
