"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
(JOHN 15:13)

John 15:1-17
You might be thinking, “this sounds familiar; you already had us read John 15.” Yes, I know. But I could think of no better spot to return to at the end of a devotional in which we think of God as the giver of good gifts. Here in John 15 we are reminded of the greatest gift of all. The ultimate gift. Christ acting on our behalf, laying down, giving up, handing over, His own life. And He did so knowing full well, of course, that He was giving it up for undeserving and ungrateful friends. But they were friends who not for a moment were unloved. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).


As we looked at God’s good gifts in Scripture, in history, in our localized lives, we realize they are but sub-gifts. But they cast small yet beautiful shadows as they stand near the light of the gift that makes enjoying them possible. That is the gift of God giving us Himself – His very own body, His blood! That gift it is indeed enough, enough for all of us… collectively, individually, eternally.



Scripture Focus

John 15:1-17

Insight

"WE SHOULD BE ASTONISHED AT THE GOODNESS OF GOD... BEWILDERED THAT AT THIS VERY MOMENT WE ARE STANDING ON HOLY GROUND."
(BRENNAN MANNING)

Bible In A Year

  • Jeremiah 37-38
  • Psalm 120
  • 1 Corinthians 14

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