“You Are My Friends”
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in
my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have
kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that
my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this:
Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay
down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.
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. You did not choose me, but I chose you
and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and
so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my
command: Love each other.
John 15:9-17
Just before He was crucified, Jesus told His disciples how He
felt about them. They were not His servants they were His friends. What a world
of difference. And Jesus died for His friends, who are you and I.
Have we responded to the Lord Jesus’ invitation of friendship by
opening our hearts to Him with nothing held back?
Jesus longs to be our Friend.
Our Daily Bread –