Dear Explorer,
Read John 15:12-14
My thoughts go to how very few people would be on my list -- that I would be willing to die for. Then, I think of the list of people who would be willing to die for me and suddenly, I find myself worshiping and thanking Jesus for being willing to die for me. I can't imagine anyone loving me that much. What love!
So, Father, what do I have to do to show You my love? Die? No! Live!
Live in obedience to Jesus' command. Remember, He's only given us one command: To love one another. That is sacrificial living.
In obedience to Jesus' commands, I can love others sacrificially (even when it costs me time, energy, or finances), turning the other cheek, seeing potential, recognizing the good, accepting the bad. A description of God-like love is given by Paul:
Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NASB)
What does that look like in my family? On the job? In my church? With my friends? In relation to my enemies? Can I love just because Jesus loves me? Where does that kind of love come from?
We covered this just the other day as we looked at peace. The same is true for love! As we let God be in control of our lives and refuse to let SELF be our guiding force, the fruit of the Spirit will grow in our lives. Part of that fruit is love -- God-like love -- agape or perfect love.
So, how do we get it? By simply inviting Jesus in and beginning to obey Him. If we focus on loving people -- we will fail. If we focus on loving God, we succeed in loving both!
What I've found in my own life is that my love for others is in direct proportion to my obedience to Jesus. When I see un-loving attitudes creep into my life -- I KNOW that I'm not tuned into Jesus. I more I focus on obedience to God, the more loving I become.
Read John 15:15
I have called you friends. What exactly is a friend? That's hard to put a finger on, isn't it? Think about a good friend -- what is it that you like about him or her?
She's happy to see me coming. She likes me. She listens as if I'm important. She weeps with me and tries to cheer me up. She rejoices with me and gives me good advice. We enjoy the same things and could talk literally for hours without getting tired of each other. She desires to understand and really get to know me -- the good, the bad and the ugly. I trust her with confidential matters and trust her to not intentionally hurt me. She is committed to spending time together with me even if it's just a quick hello in passing. She gives of herself for my comfort. She points me to God.
Do you have a friend like that?
Much has been said about Jesus being better than a best friend. He certainly meets all the criteria. But that's not what John 15:5 says.
Here we see Jesus saying, "I call you MY friend." What does it mean to be Jesus' friend?
Re-read the above description of a friend – or your description of a friend and ask yourself, “Am I a good friend to Jesus?”