Day 16: Remain...

It is likely that you will have read this passage many times before, but there will always be something new to see within it.  There is so much to take from these words of Jesus about love, our commitment to Jesus, our obedience to His commands, His expectations of us and the promises He makes to us.

Maybe you can find something new to think or pray about from this passage today in your Love 40 days journey...  If you find anything particularly speaking to you, please do share it in the comments below!

I have loved you even as the Father has loved me.  Remain in my love.  When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love.  I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy.  Yes, your joy will overflow!  This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I haved loved you.  There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves.  Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.  You didn't choose me.  I chose you.  I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.  This is my command: Love each other. (John 15:9-17)

For the kids:
There are so many parts of this passage that you could look at.  Maybe read the whole thing through twice together and see what stands out to the children and talk about that, or if they are younger pick a shorter part of the passage and read that together and talk about what they understand from the words.  Talk about what Jesus is telling us about love and what He wants us to do.