Day 18

Be Still:  Dear Father, thank you for choosing us.  Please help us to remain in Your love, so that we can glorify You by bearing fruit.  In Jesus’ name, through the power of the Holy Spirit, Amen

Be Strengthened:  John 15:9-17

⁹"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. ¹¹I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹²My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

^13”Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

^16”You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

^17”This is my command: Love each other.”

Be Stretched:  What does it mean to remain in Jesus’ love?  How will you do so today?  What does it mean to have complete joy?  How can you live in that joy today?  Do you consider Jesus a friend?  If so, how does that make you feel?  If not, why not?  Pray that Jesus will meet you wherever you are, and help you to move closer to friendship with Him.