KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 13:1 NET “Just before the Passover feast, Jesus knew that his time had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now loved them to the very end.”

The Passover, which was the time for the Lord’s crucifixion, was nigh. The Bible says he loved his own, that is, His disciples. He loved them unto the very end.

Be mindful of the fact that He perfectly knew about the ordeal He would be going through. Naturally, He should have been occupied with sorrow, anxiety, and maybe self-analysis of the challenges that was before Him. These were not the issues that filled His heart. He was rather occupied with love for His disciples.

I believe He really appreciated the fellowship and relationship He had with them. I also think He considered the dangers that laid ahead of them. The attacks or persecutions that the Pharisees would be raising against them. He also did not want to lose any of them.

 His love for the disciples was expressed in the prayer He made in John 17, in which He prayed that they might be delivered from the evil one. Above all was His desire that none of them would be lost into the world or the deceptions of the evil one.

All Christians must have the continual commitment of seeing new Christians standing strong in the Lord. 2nd Peter 1:12 “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things though you know them and be established in the present truth.” In this event, Peter was about to depart the earth into glory and so wanted to make sure that the brethren he would be leaving behind, would be able to stay through.

What is your love for younger Christians in the faith? How much are you seeking for their stability in the Lord? What can one do to help these young brothers and sisters in the faith? I do not necessarily mean those who are young in age. I mean anyone who has come into Christ irrespective of his or her age. Such a one is young in the faith and needs to be loved in sincerity.

1. They must be loved in truth.

2. They ought to be prayed for always. Eph. 1:14-15, 2nd Corinth. 1:3

3. They must be encouraged with the word of God. 2nd Peter 2:2

4. They should be encouraged to practice the disciplines of the Christian faith, like personal prayer times, fasting, quiet time, fellowshipping with other brethren. They must also be taught the importance of giving to the work of God. If these things are diligently taught, they would surely grow in the Lord and become effective disciples.

CONFESSION:

The soul of every child of God is very precious unto the Lord Jesus. Our Lord died that all who believe in Him should not perish, but live forever. I express true love and do whatever I must to help them stand strong in the faith.

FURTHER STUDIES

Gal 4:19 NET My children – I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you!

John 17:19 NET” And I set myself apart on their behalf, so that they too may be truly set apart.