9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants[a] any longer, because the servant[b] does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.
-John 15:9-17
As Jesus prepares his disciples for the next phase of their life, he leaves them with a parting commandment: To love as Christ loved. As our graduates prepare to go out into the world, the same advice holds true. [hear sermon audio]
This week, take some time to go deeper. Use these scriptures and questions to reflect in your devotion time.
Texts to read:
Questions to ponder:
- Who are the people in your life that it’s easy to love?
- When have you needed to put someone else’s interests before your own?
- How might the love described here be different than what we typically see in tv and movies?
Do and share:
- Take a picture of love in action. Share it with us on Facebook or Twitter.
- Share your hopes for our graduating seniors via Facebook or Twitter (@dpumc).
Pastor's Notepad 