Today’s Scripture: John 15:15, NIV- “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
Jesus not only calls us His friend, but He also teaches us how. Jesus told us in John 15:14 that “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” (NKJV) That “whatever” word is a little scary, isn’t it? Do we have limitations on what we will do for a friend or for Jesus? Do you have a friend that you can ask or tell anything? Are you that kind of friend?
Jesus also said in John 15:13 that “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (NLT) Do you have a friend that you would lay your life down for? Will you do it for Jesus?
Are you thankful that Jesus laid His life down for you? In John 15:12 Jesus gave us His command for our friendship with Him. “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (NKJV) Jesus did love us enough to lay down His life for us. Loving others is a loving commandment..
It is easier to forgive and love others when we recall the forgiveness and love that Jesus has given to us. Jesus loves us even when we are unlovable. How can He do that? In John 15:10, Jesus tells us how. He can love us because He obeys His Father’s commands and remains in His love.
In John 15:9, Jesus said “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” (NIV) Jesus loved as God the Father loved Him and we can love because Jesus loves us and looks at us as His friends.
The scriptures give a visual of how we are to stay in Jesus’ love. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.” John 15:1 (NIV) When we grow as a branch of Jesus’ vine, we will produce the fruits of Jesus. Our greatest fruit is love.
Jesus makes it clear in John 15:4 that we cannot love as He does if we live a separated life from His vine. He said “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.” (NLT) When Jesus is our source of life we grow to know a life of love.
When we love as Jesus loves us, we also come to know true joy. In fact, Jesus stated in John 15:11, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (NIV) There is no better way to live our lives than to live in Jesus’ love and in His complete joy.
Because Jesus calls us friends, we can call Jesus friend and live in His love and joy. Are you Jesus’ friend?
Today’s Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your Son Jesus who came to show us the way. Thank You LORD for first loving Jesus and have Him lay down His life for us so we could know His love and joy. We do find the completeness of love and joy in You. I am thankful LORD that Jesus continues to teach us through Your Holy Spirit. Jesus, thank You for being my friend. Teach me Lord to keep Your commands and to be the kind of friend that You desire me to be to You and others. In Your name we do pray. Amen.
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