Title: The Reward of Love/ John 15:1~8
Content: The reward of love/ John 15:1~8
Key Verse: “So that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you” (verse 16).
Word: The “parable of the vine” in John 15 is an important message about a fruitful life. What kind of fruit does this parable mean? It is the fruit of love. We should pay attention to the fact that the things Jesus spoke the most in chapters 14-16 were the Holy Spirit and love. What do you mean? The most important work of the Holy Spirit is that it is in the ‘fruit of love’.
Then, how does God reward us when we bear the fruit of love through the work of the Holy Spirit? It is the abundant answer to prayer. “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you may go and bear fruit, and that your fruit may abid, that whatever you ask in my name, you may receive it. that they may love you” (verses 16-17). These words clearly show that God’s clear will is to give you everything you ask of God. There is a reason why God gives everything. It's about making us love each other. Therefore, to those who live in the abundance of love, and to those who live for love, whatever they ask for, God will bless them.
George Mueller is a man of prayer so famous that even a book about his prayer was published. Mueller is said to have experienced prayers answered 50,000 times in his lifetime. But do you know? That Mueller was an apostle of love who devoted his life to the father of orphans. Most of Mueller's prayers, which received 50,000 answers, were prayers of love devoted to feeding and raising children without parents. Ladies and gentlemen, even if we follow the famous Mueller's prayer as it is, unless we practice the life of love like Mueller, the miracle of answering prayers of 50,000 times will never happen.
God never lies. Before you wonder why you didn't answer my prayers, think about what you are praying for right now. is it love Or is it something other than love? The great Saint Augustine is said to have said: “Love God. And after that, live as you please.” A very paradoxical statement. I want to change this word to this. “Buy for love. Buy for love. After that, just ask God for anything. Then, whatever it is, God will hear it.”
Prayer: Thank you for reminding us that there is no practice of love, but we want answers to prayer. May the work of the Holy Spirit make our lives a life for love and our prayer life a life for the perfection of love. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Lord's Prayer