What Jesus teaches about Friendship
Introduction
Welcome to our short devotional on friendship. The teachings of Jesus about friendship offer profound insights into how we should value and nurture our relationships. Through His conversations, parables, and actions, Jesus provides the definition of a true friend, leading us towards interactions filled with love, understanding, and mutual respect.
This journey through the Bible will guide us on how to deepen our bonds, demonstrate love, and build life-transforming friendships based on Jesus’s teachings.
Bible Verse
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” – John 15:13 (NIV)
Meaning
This isn’t just about the physical act of giving up our lives. It’s about making sacrifices, big or small, for the benefit of someone else. True friendship, as Jesus outlines it, is all about altruism and selflessness.
Furthermore, we observe how Jesus himself lived this verse. He was the embodiment of the greatest love, laying down His life for his friends, which encompasses all of humanity. Even in the face of betrayal and suffering, Jesus showed love and forgave those who went against Him.
This understanding of friendship invites us to go beyond ourselves, to consider not just our friends’ needs, but their well-being and spiritual growth.
Actions to Take
- Spend quality time: Make an effort to really get to know your friends, understand their joys, pains, hopes, and fears.
- Display generocity: Freely give of your time, resources, or gifts to help your friends in any way you can without expecting anything in return.
- Show compassion: Be there for your friends in their darkest moments, offering a shoulder to lean on.
- Promote growth: Encourage your friends to grow spiritually, drawing them closer to Jesus.
- Practice forgiveness: Do not hold grudges but forgive and love unconditionally, just like Jesus.
Journal Prompts
- How can I be a better friend, embodying Jesus’s teachings?
- What ways can I show love to my friends like Jesus did for His friends?
- Has there been a time I’ve demonstrated or experienced the “Greater love” described in John 15:13?
- How can I encourage my friends in their spiritual journey?
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for Your guidance as I strive to be a true friend to others, reflecting Your love and selfless actions. Grant me the grace to extend compassion, generosity, understanding, and forgiveness in my friendships. Help me be a beacon of Your light and love in their lives. Amen.
Social Posts
- “A true friend loves at all times. May we strive to be such friends. #FriendshipGoals #JesusTeachings”
- “Experiencing John 15:13 in daily life, practicing selflessness, and love. #LivingTheVerse #GreaterLove”
- “Let’s meet our friends with overflowing love, just as Jesus did. #TrueFriendship #FollowingJesus”
- “Treasuring my friends, thanking Jesus for their presence in my life. #Blessed #GratitudeJournal”
Conclusion
As we conclude, remember that the teachings of Jesus provide us a roadmap to build and nurture friendships that truly matter. By living out these teachings, we not only become better friends, but also better followers of Christ, reflecting His love in our actions.
We encourage you to devote time to contemplate and pray about how you can apply these teachings in your daily life. Join us for more captivating devotionals at BGodInspired.com.
Do you want to know more about what Jesus teaches about ANY topic? Then try our What Jesus Teaches GPT. This is a great modern-day companion – simply search any topic and see what Jesus has to say about it.
