What Jesus teaches about Friendship
Introduction
Who are the friends in your life? Are they individuals who help you grow, comfort you in times of need, and celebrate your triumphs? Or are they those who only appear when they need something from you? Friendship can be one of God’s greatest blessings in our lives, yet it must be rooted in the truth and guidance of Scripture. This devotional will explore what Jesus teaches us about friendship.
If we truly seek to follow Jesus, our friendships should reflect His teachings. Let’s delve into a deeper understanding of the type of friend Jesus encourages us to be.
Bible Verse
John 15:12-15 – “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.”
Meaning
In this verse, Jesus illuminates the depth and richness of the friendship He offers to us. He is teaching us that love, sacrifice, and obedience are key building blocks of a friendship. Jesus himself modelled the ultimate friendship by laying down His life for us. Thus, our friendships should reflect the essence of love, sacrifice, and shared purpose that Jesus demonstrated.
He underscores that we are more than mere servants, we are His friends. As His friends, we have the privilege of understanding His teachings and His will. Christ invites us to adhere to His teachings, in part, by modelling true friendship to others – loving them profoundly, being willing to make sacrifices for their good, and sharing a common goal of living for God’s glory.
Actions to Take
- Consider your current friendships. Do they reflect the life-giving relationship Jesus talks about?
- Be a friend who loves unconditionally. Show your care and investment in the well-being of your friends.
- Find ways to make sacrifices for your friends. It could be as simple as providing a listening ear or helping them in times of need.
- Encourage one another in the faith. Share Bible verses, pray together, and strive to live out God’s word in your daily lives.
Journal Prompts
- What do Jesus’ teachings about friendship mean to you personally?
- Recall a time you experienced love and sacrifice in a friendship. How did it impact your faith?
- How can you strive to be a better friend in the model of Jesus Christ?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I thank You for modelling the perfect example of friendship. Help me to love others the way You love me — unconditionally and selflessly. Strengthen me to make sacrifices for my friends and to always remind them of Your teachings. Guide me to be a friend who points others towards You. Amen.
Social Posts
- “I no longer call you servants… Instead, I have called you friends.” – John 15:15 #BGodInspired #TrueFriendship
- Friendship is more than just shared interests. It’s about shared faith. #BGodInspired #ChristianFriendship
- How has a friend brought you closer to God? Share your story! #BGodInspired #FaithSharing
Conclusion
Jesus teaches that the roots of genuine friendship lie in love, sacrifice, and obedience to His commands. May we strive to implement these characteristics in our friendships and continually point each other to the ultimate Friend, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Through embodying these teachings in our friendships, we can fully live for His glory.
We invite you to continue diving deeper into God’s word and learning more about Christ’s love with us at BGodInspired.com.
Journaling – Your Pathway to Purposeful Mornings!
Q&A about what Jesus teaches about Friendship
Q: What does Jesus teach about the importance of friendship?
A: Jesus emphasizes the importance of friendship through his teaching that friends love each other and are willing to lay down their lives for one another.
Q: How did Jesus define a true friend according to scriptures?
A: In John 15:13-15, Jesus defines a true friend as someone who is willing to sacrifice their life for another and shares everything they know with one another. To Jesus, friends are not servants, but equals.
Q: How does Jesus encourage us to treat our friends?
A: Jesus encourages us to treat our friends with love, kindness, and generosity. He teaches that we should forgive our friends when they wrong us and to always be honest with them.
Q: What is the foundation of friendship as per Jesus’s teachings?
A: Jesus teaches that the foundation of true friendship is centered on love and self-sacrifice. It is about putting the needs and well-being of your friends above your own.
Q: What does Jesus teach about loyalty in friendship?
A: Jesus teaches that loyalty is a crucial element in friendship. His teachings encourage staying true to our friends, even in times of trouble.
Q: According to Jesus, can enemies become friends?
A: Yes, Jesus teaches that love, forgiveness, and kindness can even turn enemies into friends. He preached about loving your enemies and praying for those who persecute you.
Q: What does Jesus say about forgiving friends?
A: Jesus teaches that we should forgive others as God forgives us. In Matthew 18:21-22, He urges us to forgive not just seven times, but seventy-seven times – symbolizing limitless forgiveness.
Q: How does friendship correlate with Jesus’s teaching on love?
A: Jesus stated that the greatest love is to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. This shows that friendship, in its highest form, pivots on selfless love and sacrifice.
