God loved, man loved...

 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. (John 3:16-19 ESV)
Love is the right thing, as long as the object of your love is the right thing.  God made us and loved us. That's right.  We are made by God and love the darkness instead of His light. Not right.  We have twisted love in every way: who or what we love, how we love, and why we love.  There is no true love without the love of God.

Timing is everything...

 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 ESV)
We call it The Great Commandment. And indeed it is. When did Jesus give it, and why then?  It was at a very critical moment in the upper room, after the feet-washing, and just after Judas left to betray Him.  It was like now Jesus could call their session to order and get down to business, and the first order of business was to lay down the ground rules of how they would do things.  Rule #1 is to love as He has loved us.  That's enough to knock your socks off without going to rule number 2.  But is it feasible?  Is He right in telling us to do so?  If we all love Him, and have a relationship with Him, (since the traitor has left the room...) can we not challenge each other to love as He has loved?

For the joy...

 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.  Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:23, 24 ESV)
Joy. That elusive state of knowing all is well no matter what is going on around us - knowing God so well that we can face life head-on.  Where does it come from?  Like all spiritual blessings - from Him.  How do we get there? Ask.  Talk to the Father through the Son.  Ask. Not just for stuff, but for answers, for wisdom, for the sake of knowing Him.  It comes from a life walked by faith and talked with Him. 

When we pray... and when we don't...

 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
(Acts 4:31 ESV)
The apostles and other believers had started right - gathered in prayer to seek God's direction. And He had blessed - not only on Pentecost, but day after day.  A "typical day" was when they went to the temple, spoke of Jesus, got arrested, were warned not to do it again, and then went back to pray. In their prayers they praised God for Who He is, as well as what He had done. And they prayed that they might have the boldness they needed to keep on going. And He gave it.  And when they prayed, He answered.  When we don't pray, we miss all those things. We cannot afford not to pray.

Losing heart...

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.  Luke 18:1

Jesus kept bringing it up: "...and by the way, don't forget to pray."  Through His example, His exhortations, and His illustrations, He kept reminding us to pray all the way.  He knows us so well.  We are prone to "lose heart," to give up, to stop praying.  May we hear Him tell us today: "Pray and do not lose heart."

For the third time...

 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:23-24 ESV)
When Jesus made this statement, it was the third time in the upper room discussion He had said such a thing.  When Jesus says something twice, listen up, but when He says it three times, really listen! The promise of answered prayer; the joy we all seek - it comes when we take the time and give our trust to Him in prayer.  He guarantees it. 

How to be ready for the next thing...

 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. (Acts 2:1 ESV)
Ignoring the pesky chapter break between Acts 1 & 2, it flows that the Apostles and other believers were continuing to pray together, and take little steps of obedience as the Lord led and answered their prayers. This "set them up" for the next big thing - not just the receiving of the promised Holy Spirit, but also the reward of prayerfully waiting - having God use them in a recognizable way.  This is the way, the only way, to be ready for what God has for us - to patiently and prayerfully pray, trust and obey..