"I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than 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 slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other."
SOAP: John 15:12-13
S: "This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends"
O: God tells us that there is no greater love than to lay down your life for a friend. It doesn't necessarily mean that we have to die for our friends. It means to put aside your own life for a time to help your friends. It means to be selfless. Stop and think about someone other than yourself.
I just read a blog entry about life being hard. God never promised us a rose garden in life. He never promised it would be easy. But He did give us friends to help us along the way. A friend can take many forms. It can be your spouse, someone you've known a long time or someone you may not know. It is anyone who befriends us at a time when we need it the most.
There was a post shared with my tonight about a young woman who has Stage 4 cancer that has metastasized and she was given only 6 months to live. The post said to find the young ladies' profile on Facebook and friend request her and give her some encouragement. So I did. I also shared the story in a couple of prayer groups that I am in. I don't know this girl. But I did tell her that I would pray for her and her family.
I took the time to put aside my own problems for a moment so I could befriend this girl and pray for her. I believe that is what God had meant. Put your life aside for the good of someone else.
A: I sometimes need reminding that it's not just me and my problems. I need to remember that helping someone else can be rewarding. I need to remember to put me aside. There are people with worse problems than me. I can make someone elses' life a little better, maybe, by doing something for them, such as praying. It doesn't cost anything but a few minutes out of my life.
P: Lord Jesus, help us to remember that You sacrificed Your life for us. It was the ultimate gift of love and friendship. You taught us how to die to self. You taught us the meaning of sacrifice. Remind us, Jesus, that it is through Your absolute love that we are made stronger. Remind us that we are to love as You love us. Amen.
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