Thoughts on the Gospel of John (146) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2024

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
John 15:12–15

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (146)
Who would dare to fulfil Jesus’ commandment to love one another as He loved us? Is that even possible? If the children of God weren’t able to do this, the Lord wouldn’t have given this commandment to them. Those who have experienced new birth and have come to repentance and faith possess eternal life. The power of this divine life enables them to love their fellow believers despite all their peculiarities and differences. Our failures to implement this commandment should never lead us to weaken its force in any way.

Love is not limited to having positive feelings for another; it makes every effort to contribute in every way to the welfare of the other. This begins with a feeling of genuine concern and culminates in the willingness to give or lay down one’s life for other believers (cf. 1 John 3:16).

Jesus calls believers His friends – what a great blessing! It means that He shares with them the details of His thoughts and intentions. In contrast, servants or slaves could only have expected to receive work instructions.

We talk about our plans with our friends. We know that they are interested in them, even if our plans don’t concern them directly. God had this kind of intimacy with Abraham, who is also called “the friend of God”: “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing?” (Genesis 18:17).

Yes, believers are the “best” friends of Jesus! He lets them share the relationship He has with His Father!

Today’s reading: 2 Samuel 15:13-29 · 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12