Readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter

 Acts 11:1-18

Psalm 148

Rev. 21:1-7

John 13:31-35

Passage to Ponder: “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35 ESV)

Devotion: The fruit that comes from knowing the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord is love for others.  True love for others is concerned about the others needs over our own wants.  The fruit of God’s love in our lives is shown when we love others with no though or regard for our own benefit but for their gain.

This love does not come naturally from us.  You may have heard that little voice in your head that tries to convince you that if you do something ‘nice’ for someone, then you will get something ‘good’ in return.  That’s selfishness, not love. 

True love comes from the Father, as He sent His son to die for the sin of the world.  Remember, He didn’t need to do this.  He did it because He loves His creation.  Knowing that His creation would reject, despise and kill His only begotten Son, the Father sent Him in Love to redeem His creation, because that was our greatest need.

God didn’t do this to gain anything, but rather to give everything:           

“He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”  (John 1:10-13 ESV)