John 14:21-26 (TPT)
21 Those who truly love me are those who obey my commands. Whoever passionately loves me will be passionately loved by my Father. And I will passionately love you in return and will manifest my life within you.”
22 Then one of the disciples named Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “Lord, why is it you will only reveal your identity to us and not to everyone?”
23 Jesus replied, “Loving me empowers you to obey my word. [love is proven by obedience to the Word] And my Father will love you so deeply that we will come to you and make you our dwelling place. 24 But those who don’t love me will not obey my words. The Father did not send me to speak my own revelation, but the words of my Father.
25 I am telling you this while I am still with you. 26 But when the Father sends the Spirit of Holiness, the One like me who sets you free, [the Redeemer from the curse] he will teach you all things in my name. And he will inspire you to remember every word that I’ve told you.
It is the work of the Holy Spirit to redeem us from the curse of sin and death and the way to walk in that gift of freedom is to love Christ—the Living Word—passionately. Don’t ever forget the world is cursed and will face judgment, but those who receive Christ are redeemed from that curse as we allow the Word to teach us a new way to live in the truth and love of God. Our passionate love for Christ enables our spiritual memory, too; the Holy Spirit will inspire us to remember the Word of God so we can walk in victory. Hallelujah for God’s glorious Gifts!
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your ongoing redemption to lift me out of dead living. As I stay connected to the Vine of Christ—the Word—I will grow in the ways of righteousness. As your children around the globe stay connected to the Vine of Christ, we will overtake evil with good. If God be for us who can be against us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.