Sometimes I need to be reminded of the amazing love of Jesus. Sometimes I need to remember that I am not a servant, but I’m a friend of Jesus. You and I are not just servants, but we are chosen by Jesus to be cherished friends! Jesus wants us to be with him, to stay connected to him just like branches are to a vine so that we can have joy! And by abiding in Jesus and his great love, this love will be contagious and other people will want to get to know the Source. This week’s gospel reading and our EASTER CUPS will help us drink in this great love and help us remember! So grab a favorite mug and join in as we read and pray with John 15.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 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. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 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. 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. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
DRINKING FROM THE CUP OF CONNECTION:
DRINK IN CONNECTION
PICK UP YOUR CUP… In JOHN 15, Jesus is talking to his disciples about abiding in him. He wants his followers to stay connected to him like branches are connected to a vine. And this connection is all about his love flowing in us and through us.
As you HOLD Your Cup… imagine connecting to Jesus. Imagine Jesus filling up your cup with his great love for you.
How does it feel to know that Jesus wants you to stay connected to him? As you drink from your cup today, consider the things that help you stay connected to Jesus… Prayer, getting out in nature, being with or talking to friends, listening to music, working in the garden, taking a run, what else? As you drink from your cup, talk to Jesus about this. Plan a time this weekend to do the things that connect you to the Vine.
DRINKING FROM THE CUP OF JOY:
Drink from the Cup of JOY!
In the Passion Translation of John 15:11, Jesus says: “My purpose for telling you these things is so that the joy that I experience will fill your hearts with overflowing gladness!”
Jesus wants his Joy to be in us! What does the Joy of Jesus really look like? How does this make you feel?
PICK UP YOUR CUP. HOLD IT and consider how you are feeling today. Is your heart overflowing with gladness, or have you been discouraged by the harsh things of life? Maybe like me you have had a bad week. Maybe you’ve felt the weight of things like covid in India, or you have friends who are hurting or you’ve been drinking from a cup of frustration and discouragement rather than a cup of joy. Maybe you’ve just gotten busy and haven’t taken the time to consider drinking from a cup of joy!
PICK UP YOUR CUP. Talk to Jesus about where you really are today. He isn’t afraid of your emotions. He loves you however you are today!
Fill up your cup. Fill it to the brim! Drink in some JOY!
Barbara Haines reminded us at thinplaceNASHVILLE that the Joy of the Lord is our strength and we can all have better days when we choose joy!
What if you and I chose to wake up each day this week and drink from a cup of JOY? How would our day be different?
WE ARE CHOSEN!
Remembering we are CHOSEN
I’ve really missed hanging out in coffee shops and meeting friends for coffee. I’m looking forward to this as we all get vaccinated. While we are waiting, Let’s plan a coffee date with Jesus!
Imagine Jesus sitting across from you, you might even pour him a cup just like we set a place for Elijah at Passover.
What do you talk about? What if you just sat and listened? What does Jesus say to you?
“I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.”
What do you need to hear from Jesus today? Talk to him about what’s going on in your life just like you would your friends.
“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. This is my command: Love each other.”
How does it feel to know that Jesus has chosen you?
HOLD YOUR CUP…Imagine it has the hashtag #CHOSEN printed on it!
Drink in the love of Jesus today. Drink in your belovedness. Drink from your cup and REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE CHOSEN! Remember that loves us so we can go and love others.
©lillylewin and freerangeworship.com
Sign up now for this virtual retreat experience with Christine Sine and Lilly Lewin on June 5, 2021 from 10am to 1pm Pacific Time (Convert time zone here)
