Assigned to Love

Scripture:

^“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide…” (John 15:16)

Reading:

Have you ever had an assignment cancelled? Remember that feeling - the relief of being set free from something you no longer had to carry.

In a very real way, that’s what happens when we come to Christ. Before placing your faith in Jesus, you lived under the domain of darkness and the influence of Satan (John 12:31, 14:30). But in Christ, “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son…” (Colossians 1:13)

And that changes everything.

When you were born again, you were set free and reassigned to love God, love people, and love life (John 8:32, 36).

Yet freedom in Christ is not freedom without purpose. We are not simply set free from something, but we are set free to Someone. That means that the Lord now leads us into a life that we could never live on our own - a life defined by love.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)

Jesus isn’t talking about polite or manageable, convenient love. He’s talking about something far deeper than what we can produce naturally. The steady, self-giving love of God doesn’t come from willpower or emotion. This is love we were never meant to produce on our own.

Remember, God never gives an assignment without also providing what we need to carry it out.

“God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5)

The Holy Spirit, our Teacher, does what we cannot. He pours God’s love into our hearts. As we learn to receive and abide in His love by faith, His love begins to overflow through us, enabling us to love like Jesus in ways we could never manufacture. With Holy Spirit, we get to love beyond our natural capacity, fulfilling the very purposes He’s given us (John 15:16, 1 John 4:19).

Today, rest in God’s love. Thank Him that you do not have to produce His love on your own. The old assignment has been cancelled. Now you are free to abide, receive, and follow. And as you do, the Holy Spirit will do what only He can do, forming the love of Christ in you and through you.

Your Turn:

1. Jesus calls us to love one another as He has loved us (John 15:12). What part of that kind of love feels most impossible for you in your current season?

2. Jesus reminds His disciples that they did not choose Him, but He chose them (John 15:16). How does being chosen by Christ change the way you will love people today?

Prayer:

God, thank You for filling my heart with Your love. Holy Spirit, You are my Source of love, and with You I can reflect Jesus to others by serving them above myself. Please pour out grace upon grace so that I can love like my Lord. Amen.