Day 13: Jesus Is In You
Read John 14:19-24
“Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
Reflect
Notice the stress on love and obedience in verses 15, 23 and 24. Jesus uses agape as the word for love here (day 8 of this devotional gives you the full definition). It is basically the most amazing, sacrificial, unconditional love one can have for another person. The word in Greek used for “obey” is “tērĕō” which means to guard, watch, keep your eye upon. Jesus is saying here to love Him with an unconditional love and keep guard over the actions in your life by obeying His word (this is a heart, head and hands connection). When Jesus spoke of the Father and the Son making their ‘home’ with the believer (verse 23), He used the same word (monē) as in 14:2, where He said that in His Father’s house there are many rooms (monai). This word means a close, intimate residing together. As the disciples looked forward to a place in these rooms, in God’s presence in Heaven, the Father and the Son would make their home (monē) with them in the here and now by the coming of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us after we begin a relationship with Jesus. This connection is designed to teach that Jesus desires His Spirit to live in us (make His home in us) with our hearts filled with that love toward Him which lives actively for Him in obedience. It’s a radical thought to think that as a Christ-follower, everywhere we go and everything we do, the Spirit of God goes too because He lives in us. With that in mind, when we are tempted to do things that might not be pleasing to God (which is common to all of us), we can ask the Spirit of God, that lives in us, to help us make good choices.
Jesus is saying here to love Him with an unconditional love and keep guard over the actions in your life by obeying His word.
Respond
Take a few minutes and ask Jesus, “What area in my life am I not guarding and being obedient to you and not making good choices?” This isn’t about legalism and white-knuckling to obey. This is about loving Jesus and choosing to show that love by obeying Him and keeping watch over one’s own behavior. Talk to Jesus about it, “Jesus, please help me to hear your Spirit of truth about the condition of my heart and mind. Reveal areas that are not aligned in obedience to you, areas in my behavior that are displeasing to you and ways that I can make the best home for you in my heart.” Confess disobedient areas to Jesus and ask Him for help in loving and obeying Him fully (1 John 1:9).
Pause for a few minutes to reflect about ways to please Jesus and tell Him how much you love Him.