Author: Beth Duncan

John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.  

There is a well-known quote attributed to Maya Angelou that says, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.” I am reminded of this quote as I read verse 22 this morning. When painting with the “sin brush,” it’s easy to paint broad strokes for big sins, but let’s look at the verses preceding verse 22. Jesus mentions remaining in His love AND loving one another, remaining in His love BY loving one another.

John 15:23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well.

Snarky comments often don’t seem like a big deal. Being snippy often gets a pass (especially if you are having a bad day), right? But think about how we treat each other daily. I know I’m guilty of not being as kind and welcoming as I could be. I often even feel justified in those feelings. Yet Jesus could be talking directly to me in verse 22 because when I am unkind to others, I’m not living as I know I should, I’m not remaining in His love by loving others.

John 15:24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 

Lord, Forgive me when I don’t treat others as Your deeply loved children. I know better. Help me do better. Always. Help me never underestimate the power of basic human kindness. Help me to live in Your love by loving, welcoming, being kind to those around me. Amen.

John 15:25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’

Have a blessed day.

John 15:17 This is my command: Love each other.

This scripture is a little dizzying. Yesterday’s verses declare that we are chosen by Jesus, intentionally chosen, set aside, appointed. Today, we find out that being chosen by Jesus means we are rejected by the world because we don’t belong to the world. I would definitely rather belong to Jesus than to the world, but rejection stings, regardless.

John 15:18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.

However, Jesus tells us repeatedly that we are to love one another…even if we are chosen by Jesus, even if we are rejected by the world, we are to love one another. Always. Jesus modeled this with His love for Judas, who betrayed Him with a kiss, with His prayers for the soldiers, even as they cast lots for His clothes as he was dying.

John 15:19a If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.  

Precious Savior, Thank You for modeling so beautifully Your command to love each other. You don’t tell us to love only when it is easy or when it costs nothing. You tell us to love each other. Period. Always. Even when it’s hard. Even when it costs us everything. Help me to love Your people, all your people, as You love me–unconditionally, always. Amen.

John 15:19b …As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

Have a blessed day.

John 15:11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Take a moment to read verse 16. The words “…I chose you…” jump out at me and make my heart sing. Don’t we all want to be chosen, wanted, selected? And Jesus has chosen us…and appointed us so that we might go and bear fruit.

John 15:15 I 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.

We are chosen. Let that sink in a moment. We are not mistakes. We are not rejects. We are not castoffs. We are chosen. By Jesus. For a purpose. I don’t know about you, but that definitely makes me stand a little taller.

John 15:16 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. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for understanding what a difference it makes to be chosen by You. Thank You for communicating that we are chosen. Help us to see each other as You see each of us–Your deeply loved children, chosen for a purpose. Help me to live this day as the chosen, loved child of God that I am. Amen.

John 15:17 This is my command: Love each other.

Have a blessed day.

John 15:11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

When I did a quick internet search for the difference between joy and happiness, I found the following on Compassion International’s website: “Joy is an inner feeling. Happiness is an outward expression. Joy endures hardship and trials and connects with meaning and purpose. A person pursues happiness but chooses joy.” Choose Joy is a life motto of mine.

John 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

We are two weeks into the new school year, and I can honestly say that I feel a joy in my job unlike any I have experienced in previous years. Trust me when I say that it is NOT because everything is perfect. There’s a lot going on in education right now that is unsettling. But I feel like I am exactly where I’m supposed to be, I trust that God has me where He needs me in this moment. That feeling is a true gift.

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.   

Precious Savior, You know how much I worry and fret about all the things. Thank You that in this moment I am able to simply be where You have me, to feel Your joy for the people I am able to interact with in this moment. Help me to simply, fully live in Your joy and not doubt or fret. Thank You for this incredible gift. Amen.

John 15:14 You are my friends if you do what I command.

Have a blessed day.

John 15:9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.  

Remain, abide, continue, live…Various translations of this scripture use these synonyms for the end of verse 9. Essentially, Jesus tells us to love as He has loved us, to love as God loves us, to live in that love as we go through each day.

John 15:10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

God loved Moses, even as he gave all those excuses. He loved the Israelites, even as they grumbled. Jesus loved the adulterer, even as He told her to go and sin no more. He loved the Pharisees, even as they hung Him on the cross. Jesus is urging us to remain in that love which is fierce, deep, unconditional, all-encompassing.

John 15:11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the unfathomable love that You have for us. Thank You for desiring that Your joy may be in us and that our joy may be complete through You. Help us to remain, to abide, to continue, to fully live in Your love, Your grace, Your joy. Always. Amen.

John 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 

Have a blessed day.

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 

I love the look of cut flowers. They are beautiful, they just aren’t very practical. Even if you use all the tips and tricks to keep them fresh, eventually, they will wither. This is what happens to us, too, when we do not remain intentionally rooted in Him. And even though I spend every morning in my recliner with my coffee and my bible, talking to Jesus, drawing closer, abiding in Him, it never takes me long to unintentionally slip into “I can do it myself” mode, like a wayward toddler.

John 15:6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 

It’s not even that I intentionally try to show Jesus my strength. I swear I think I’m doing the right thing. “Hey, Jesus, Look how independent I am. See how strong You made me?” But just like those cut flowers, no matter how brightly I may shine momentarily, I’ve already begun to wither because I’m no longer rooted in Him.

John 15:7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the reminder that I must stay rooted in You. Thank You for the strength, grace, and peace that Your presence provides. Help me, daily, hourly, moment-by-moment, to draw closer. Help me stay firmly rooted in Your love. Amen.

John 15:8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Have a blessed day.

John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 

My daily devotional today contained the following: “…apart from [God] you can do nothing: that is, nothing of eternal value.” I’m not sure why that struck me like it did, but it really caught my attention. I can do lots of things apart from God, but none of them will have eternal value, none will further His kingdom..

John 15:3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

Lord, as I go throughout my day, help me to abide in You. When I stay centered on You, I can root myself in your love, ground myself in Your peace. The chaos of the world, which never truly goes away, can’t touch me at my core when You are my center. Thank You.

John 15:4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

Lord, Sometimes the daily grind seems futile. Help me to remember that in You, it’s not. With You, I can shine Your light and further Your kingdom. Without You, I can do lots of things, but none of them are of eternal value. Help me to seek You, to see You, always. Help me to partner with You daily. Amen.

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 

Have a blessed day.