Live to Love Scripture Encouragement

John 16:21 “Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world.”
Jesus chose the example of the anguish and joy of giving birth to a child to give hope to His disciples who were about to go through deep emotional and spiritual pain. Just as the pain is unavoidable in labor, so the pain of the cross and their anguish was unavoidable. There will be no joy in the arrival of the child unless the pain is endured. In the same way, the disciples had to endure great anguish before the resurrection appearance, which signaled the new birth of the children of God. Peter used the birth figure in his first epistle. Let these words be your live to love with Jesus encouragement today.
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Peter 1:4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
1 Peter 1:5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
1 Peter 1:7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Expect various trials each day. We are in labor pains. But we do not labor without hope. There is a resurrection—a revelation of the fruit of the seed of the Holy Spirit—to come to the praise and glory and honor to God. Live with expectation of that future joy.

Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 16:19-20 “Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, ’Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, “A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me”’? Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy.”
When Jesus was put to death, the world rejoiced and Jesus’ followers grieved their loss. The same happens today as we hear of our brothers and sisters in the faith suffering for His name sake. The world rejoices. As Jesus said only moments before this statement, recorded in 16:2 “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God.” In 15:18, He had said, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.” Even though we have been given a “heads up” to these things, we still weep, lament, and grieve when the world casts its hatred for Jesus upon His followers. But we are not without hope just as the disciples were not without hope. They had the hope of joy set before them, much like Jesus. The writer of Hebrews wrote about Jesus, “Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2).
As we know, they did weep, lament, and grieve when Jesus was crucified and laid in the tomb. However, in a very little while He was raised and appeared to them and said, “Peace be with you. And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord.” And thus, Jesus’ words in this verse were fulfilled.
Today, let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who has promised us that our weeping, lamenting, and grief will be turned to joy. May the hope of joy fill our hearts in this fallen world as we live to love with Jesus.

Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 16:17-18. “Some of His disciples then said to one another, ‘What is this thing He is telling us, “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me”; and, “because I go to the Father”?’ So they were saying, ‘What is this that He says, “A little while”? We do not know what He is talking about.’”
Obviously the disciples were confused and puzzled by Jesus’ remarks about being seen, not being seen, then being seen again, and His going to the Father. After the resurrection and the gift of the Holy Spirit, all that confusion was cleared up. Jesus, the living God, changed everything! We are now in the age of history where Jesus has come and the Holy Spirit has been given. We have the record of the life and ministry of Jesus as well as His disciples. They went from a confused band of followers of Jesus to a world-impacting, history-making, kingdom-consumed, love-empowered strike force. Their ministries in the world still ripple today. Believers of every generation stand on their shoulders and are encouraged by their testimonies and understanding of Jesus Christ.
Have you ever been confused about Jesus and what He said? If so, just wait a little while. In time, at just the right time, the Holy Spirit will disclose to you what you need from God to manifest His life and light in your world.

Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 16:16 "A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me."
That’s exactly what happened. Again, Jesus told them of things to come before they happened so that when they occurred, they would believe and trust in Him. Within less than 24 hours, a little while, Jesus was placed in the tomb, out of their sight. However, He was only there “a little while.” On the third day, while gathered in the same room where they had observed Passover, they saw Him again. John 20:19 “So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ And so it was. A little while and they no longer saw Him, and then a little while and they saw Him.
These things have been recorded so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the Messiah, the savior of the world. He is the way, the truth, and the life, and the only way for any human being to have access to God, the Father. What’s the main point? Jesus died, was buried, and was raised to give eternal life to all who believe. Those who believe have been called to testify to the risen Jesus by displaying His love, bearing fruit, for the glory of God. It’s why they breathe, eat, sleep, work, exercise, read their Bibles, pray, and serve. May the life of Jesus be the fullness of our lives today, so that the world may see that Jesus lives and saves sinners.

Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 16:15 “All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.”
The concept of the Holy Trinity is reflected in this verse. Jesus spoke of His father, Himself, and the Holy Spirit as one, yet distinct. All that belongs to the Father, belong to Jesus, and the Father and the Son both sent the Holy Spirit (14:16; 15:26). Jesus informed His disciples that the things the Holy Spirit discloses are the things of the Father and the Son. Jesus said, those things “are the Fathers” and “are Mine.” What are we? All who belong to the Father and the Son are recipients of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus called “the Spirit of truth.” The apostle Paul referred to the Holy Spirit as “the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 3:16), “the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:17), “the Spirit of His Son” (Gal. 4:6), “the Spirit of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:9), “the Spirit of adoption”(Rom. 8:15), “the Spirit of promise” (Eph. 1:13), and “the Spirit of life” (Rom. 8:2). The writer of Hebrews spoke of “the Spirit of grace.”
Living to love with Jesus is the same as living to love with the Holy Spirit. This life is not a normal, natural life. His love is supernatural—literally it is a superpower. The worldview, mindset, and attitude of Christ is the way God’s love flows in our lives to everyone He puts in our paths. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Father and the Son, and those in whom He dwells, have received the things freely given us by God.

Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com