Let Your Joy Overflow

Meditate.

I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. John 15:9-12

Jesus was speaking to His disciples shortly before He was crucified. His words are also appropriate for us—even two thousand years later.

God warns us that He has standards and He wants us to strive for those—beginning with the great big Ten. Moses spoke to the Israelites about the commandments that God had given them.

He (God) proclaimed his covenant—the Ten Commandments—which he commanded you to keep, and which he wrote on two stone tablets. It was at that time that the LORD commanded me to teach you his decrees and regulations so you would obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy. Deuteronomy 4:13-14

But then His people needed more direction on how to live pure lives—so He got more specific and the people got legalistic about observing those rules to the point that the rules became more important than God Himself. Jesus taught that one of the greatest commandments is for us to love our neighbor—to love one another—which is from the Old Testament.

·        Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:18

·        Jesus replied, "The most important commandment is this: 'Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these." Mark 12:29-31

·        Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before. 1 John 2:7

Let your joy overflow--
like a hot air balloon.
Rise to the occasion.
Love one another.
Hot Air Festival, Prosser,WA

Love one another—those in the church and those who are not yet believers. It is important to share the love of God with others that they would find room for the Lord in their lives and believe in Jesus as their Savior. Without Jesus they will not have eternal life in Heaven. They will be cast into hell—into the lake of fire forever. Will your love for them keep them from eternal damnation—from an eternal life without Jesus? Pray for their salvation. Let your joy overflow.

Prayer ~ Dear God, if we don't feel guilty, we can come to You with bold confidence. And we will receive from You whatever we ask because we obey You and do the things that please You. And this is Your commandment: We must believe in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as You commanded us. From 1 John 3:21-23

Verses of Salvation ~ But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, "The LORD is great!" As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts. You are my helper and my savior. O my God, do not delay. Psalm 40:16-17

© 2021 Text, photos and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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