The Book Of John In SongSample

John 15

As followers of Jesus (and those raised in a performance-based world), our natural instinct is to ask, “Lord, what do you want me to do for you?” But the gospel turns our “doing” upside down. It is Jesus’ finished work for us that saved us, and it is Jesus’ resurrection life that now transforms us. Our work is to believe in the one God has sent (John. 6:29). Our calling is to remain in the love of Jesus -- that is to camp out, abide, and soak in the riches of the gospel perpetually! 

Out of our secure union with Christ and robust communion with him, we will offer God the obedience of faith and love, not the obedience of guilt and fear. The more fully we come alive to the love of Jesus, the more we will love others as Jesus loves us (John 13:34-35). The more we are astonished and nourished by the love of Jesus, the less our “asking” (prayer life) will be spent on selfish stories of personal gain, and the more it will be invested on kingdom stories of redemption and restoration.  Indeed, to remain isn’t to be passive, but actively expectant of what Jesus will do in us and through us.

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, thank you for living a life of perfect obedience for us, and for dying the death we deserved upon the cross. Our lives our now hidden in yours, and your life is now living in us. Free us from under-believing this gospel and for over-trusting in our efforts. Thank you for calling us to a life of remaining in your love and growing in your grace. For so great a salvation we worship you; for the riches of the gospel, we adore you; for the privilege of loving and serving you, we praise you.

Scotty Smith
blogs.thegospelcoalition.org

Listen to the song “Remain”, written from John 15, by clicking on “Listen in browser” below.