Hard To Say I Love You – Wednesday

Week 1 | Friends In Low Places

Listen instead of reading

Take a Moment

Ask God what He wants to show you before reading today

Read The Daily

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (John 15:13)

My wife came from a home of all girls that say “I Love You” after every conversation, leaving the group, going on vacation…you get the point.  In my home of all boys, you would say “I Love You” only if someone was dying (or already dead).  It used to seem weird to me how often they said it, but now I’m realizing that I’m clearly the weird one.   However, in my defense, even if I don’t say it much, I’ve always felt it was important to show it.  In my wife’s defense, she argues why not just do both.  Oh well, tomayto, tomahto lol.  I do firmly believe this though…Friendship is a product of love.

In the moments leading up to the daily verse,, Jesus had been teaching that the mark of being one of his disciples is fruitfulness. He uses an agricultural metaphor to demonstrate his point: God is the gardener, watering and caring for the vine; Jesus is the true vine; and his disciples are the branches of the vine. What flows through the vine flows through the branches, and the branches bear fruit. Jesus is saying that his disciples will bear fruit that reflects who he is. Jesus then goes on to talk about love. It’s also clear that just as the Father loved Jesus, Jesus has loved the disciples. And he wants them to remain in his love. But how are they to remain in his love? By loving each other as Jesus has loved them. 

The Father loved Jesus, Jesus loved his disciples, and Jesus commands his disciples to love each other just as he has loved them. We see love flow from the gardener to the vine to the branches. Maybe you’re wondering how this relates to friendship? Well, look at what Jesus says next: “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.” And we know Jesus’ command is that they love each other as he has loved them. It’s in the context of love that friendship exists. Jesus seems to be suggesting that you can’t be a friend without love. Friendship doesn’t stand alone as a concept. Love and friendship go hand in hand. Jesus showed this love by going to the cross for his friends. 

Prayer for the Day

God what are you  showing me?  What am I going to do about it? 

God help me to see one person that I can serve through a kind word, random act of kindness, or simple gift today?

Make sure you complete the reading or comment today.

Read The New Testament In A Year

4 x 6 Plan | Read: Matthew 17:14-27 & Romans 15:8-13