Jesus wept.
Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”
Galatians 5:4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
God will not be mocked.
Luke 12:4 “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
Thou shalt not kill…the fruit of the Spirit is wrapped in love not hate. A new commandment Jesus gave to us…love your neighbors! And who are our neighbors…EVERYONE. Carla
John 15:12-17 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.
To abide, a believer must obey (verse 10). To obey, a believer must love other believers (13:34, 35). In rashness and with confidence in the flesh, Peter had offered to lay down his life for Jesus. In actuality, he was not ready to die for Jesus; he was not even ready to live for Him (18:17, 18, 25–27).
The supreme example of love is Jesus’ humility in sacrificial service (13:15).
Jesus is our model for love (verse 13). Intimacy with Him is the motive for loving as He loves. If believers obey His command to love, they enjoy the intimacy of His friendship. Note that friendship, unlike sonship, is not a once-for-all gift, but develops as the result of obeying Jesus’ command to love.
Until this point, Jesus had called His disciples servants (12:26; 13:13–16). A servant does what he is told and sees what his master does, but does not necessarily know the meaning or purpose of it. A friend knows what is happening because friends develop deep fellowship by communicating with one another.
Jesus had initiated the relationship with His disciples (1 John 4:10). It started with selection, moved to servanthood, and grew to friendship. Having chosen the disciples, Jesus commissioned them to bring forth permanent fruit through prayer.
As Jesus spoke these words, the Pharisees were planning to kill Him (11:45–57). The world hated Him, so it should not be surprising that the world hates His followers. The NKJV Study Bible
Jesus is referencing the subject matter at hand, not everything He knows. He means that He has told His disciples everything regarding salvation and what it means to follow God and obey His will. There is no secret way to receive salvation; it simply involves accepting Jesus as Savior.
They have been called to the vocation of doing God’s will by loving other people and telling them about Christ’s ability to save them from their sins. They are commissioned for this task.
Bear fruit involves keeping Jesus’ commands (verses 8, 10) and being guided by His Spirit in the process of doing so (14:26). Not only must the disciples follow Jesus, but their works should align with His purposes (14:11).
Jesus expands on the vine and branches imagery by explaining to His disciples how their connection with Him, the true vine, will lead to their rejection and persecution by the world. The world will hate them because it opposes Him. The Jewish religious leaders were already plotting to arrest and kill Jesus (11:47). Faithlife Study Bible
John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
Matthew 12:50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
Ro 5:7–8 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
John 8:26 I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.”
My fellow citizens: keep your eyes on the truth. Don’t get confused by conflicting stories designed to confuse you. Keep your mind on the facts. Keep trying to rise above.
Keep trying to move humanity out of the darkness and into the light. It’s a new year.
It’s our job not to give up or in, no matter the foe, be it our own government, be it cancer, be it gun violence, be it a death of someone you love.
Heartbreak abounds, so does courage. Let’s keep rising. It is our only choice.” Thank you, Maria Shriver
Terry Hershey “Sabbath Moments”
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