Tell me, you whom I love, where do you feed your sheep? Where do you let them rest at noon? Why should I look for you near your friend’s sheep, like a woman who wears a veil?
“Those who love their father or mother more than they love me are not worthy to be my followers. Those who love their son or daughter more than they love me are not worthy to be my followers.
Those who know my commands and obey them are the ones who love me, and my Father will love those who love me. I will love them and will show myself to them.”
I did works among them that no one else has ever done. If I had not done these works, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen what I have done, and yet they have hated both me and my Father.
Jesus said to them, “If God were really your Father, you would love me, because I came from God and now I am here. I did not come by my own authority; God sent me.
So I want you to understand that no one who is speaking with the help of God’s Spirit says, “Jesus be cursed.” And no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” without the help of the Holy Spirit.
God is fair; he will not forget the work you did and the love you showed for him by helping his people. And he will remember that you are still helping them.
You have not seen Christ, but still you love him. You cannot see him now, but you believe in him. So you are filled with a joy that cannot be explained, a joy full of glory.