Jesus said to his followers:

9 "Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love. 11 I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full."

John 15:9-11 - World English Bible

Love has two dimensions: emotion and behavior. We feel an attraction to others so we act on that emotion. Yet, both dimensions can be irrational. The attraction cannot be the sole reason for the activity. After all lives have changed based upon behaviors in the "heat of the moment."

John 15:9 spoke of activity based upon the will of the Father. The Father loved the Son by sending him into the world in order to reveal himself, a divinity of self-giving. The disciple "remained in my love" when he "kept my commandments" by imitating God's self-giving. In other words, the measure of Christian love was the cross, Jesus giving up his life for the salvation of the world.

Is self-giving irrational? Some would thinks so. But, it is exactly this kind of love that brings true joy into life, simply because the focus of the activity is on the other, not on the self. In this way, it is shared. Christ gave himself to us with an infectious joy. When we do the same, we share in that joy.

How have given to others and shared your joy?