Father, weariness is still upon me and other things, some within my control and others beyond it, are impacting me as well. In it all may I focus on You, for that is most important! Amen.

John 15:12-17 (<<click here to read the passage)

If I asked if you have ever heard of Anna Mae Bullock, most would probably shake your head “no”. But that’s the name she was given at birth, not the name by which you would recognize her. If I asked if you had ever heard of Tina Turner, most would probably nod a solid “yes”. (By the way, in case you were wondering, in a couple of months, the good Lord willing, she’ll turn 82!)

I am not necessarily a fan, and her life, though admirable on many levels, would probably not be one we should emulate. The reason I mention her at all is because of a song with which she hit the top of the charts way back in 1984. Many of us are familiar with “What’s Love Got to Do with It”.

The chorus goes like this,

Oh-oh, what’s love got to do, got to do with it?
What’s love but a second-hand emotion?
What’s love got to do, got to do with it?
Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?

Well…I would beg to differ. Love has got everything to do with, not just “it”, but, well with everything! And there’s nothing second-hand about it! God’s love is the end-all answer to all of life’s questions if we will stop long enough to really give Him our total attention!

In the 49 verses between John 14:15-15:17, the word “love” in some form or another pops up about 20 times depending on the translation you’re reading. Being the Jesus is love personified, He’s got a lot of room to talk! He speaks of His love, the Father’s love, their love for us, our love for them, and our love for each other!

Jesus knew it was of the utmost importance that we understand it and not just think about it but live it! Remember a few verses back in John’s Gospel, He stressed,

“By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.” John 13:35 AMP

But there’s the rub! We all have this unshakeable habit of looking out for Number One! Loving takes a lot of work, a lot of undivided attention and we are far too easily distracted by almost anything!

The last statement in this cluster of verses is simply,

This is my command: Love each other. v17 NLT

This [is what] I command you: that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another. v17 AMP

And what better way to wrap it all up with the greatest commandment in all of Scripture.

“…you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31 NLT

So, what’s love got to do, got to do with it? Absolutely everything!

Sept 27th, 2021, Mon, 6:59 pm