What Jesus teaches about Friendship
Introduction
In a world often characterized by fleeting interactions and shallow connections, we may ask ourselves, what does it look like to cultivate meaningful, godly friendships? Thankfully, Jesus offers us a glimpse of the benchmark for deep, sincere friendships. This short devotional helps us to understand how Jesus views friendship, provides insight on how we can develop relationships that reflect His teachings and nudges us towards building bonds that are rooted in love, understanding, and mutual spiritual growth. Jesus invites us to befriend – not out of worldly convenience, but out of divine covenant.
Let’s dig deeper into scripture to understand the essence of friendship as illustrated by Jesus.
Bible Verse
John 15: 12-15:
“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”
Meaning
In this portion of Scripture, Jesus demonstrates the highest form of friendship – a love so profound that it’s willing to give up one’s life for their friends. He clearly defines the boundaries of this kind of friendship – obedience, love, and transparency. True friendship, according to Jesus, involves loving as He has loved us, making sacrifices, following His commandments, and having a shared understanding.
Jesus doesn’t see us as strangers or even servants but as friends. The shift from servants to friends indicates a relationship that has transcended obligation and moved into the realm of openness and love. This candid connection meant that Jesus shared everything he learned from the Father with His disciples – a level of transparency that can only be found in true friendship.
Actions to Take
- Reflect on your friendships from a Christ-like perspective: Are they based on love, trust, and mutual spiritual growth?
- Strive to love your friends as Jesus loves you – profoundly, selflessly, and unconditionally.
- Emulate the transparency Jesus demonstrated by being open, sincere, and honest with your friends.
- In all your actions, show that you care for your friends and are ready to make sacrifices for them.
- Lead your friendships based on the commandments Jesus provided.
Journal Prompts
- What qualities make a good friend? How many of those resonate with Jesus’ teachings?
- Recall a time when you experienced Jesus’ love through a friend. How did that make you feel?
- How can you better incorporate Jesus’ teaching about friendship into your daily interactions?
- What steps can you take to improve transparency and open communication in your friendships?
- Reflect on the sacrifices you are willing to make for your friends. Do they align with Jesus’ teachings?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for calling me your friend. Lead me in understanding what it means to love as deeply as You have loved. Please guide me to nurture friendships that honor You. Let transparency, kindness, respect, and unity mark my friendships. Teach me to make sacrifices as You have done for love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Social Posts
- “Jesus transforms servants to friends, providing us the framework for godly friendships #jesusfriendship”
- “When our friendships are Christ-like, they are based on love, trust, and mutual spiritual growth #JesusTeachings”
- “Jesus’ teaching – deep love translates to profound sacrifice, visible not just in His relationship with us but also in the friendships we form #sacrificiallove”
- “Godly friendship is built on His commandments, embodied by love, obedience, and transparency #godlyfriendships”
- “Thankful for friendships that reflect Jesus’ teachings. #love #obedience #transparency #BGodInspired”
Conclusion
Jesus not only teaches us about friendship but also personifies it through his actions. He guides us to cultivate relationships founded on love, effectual by sacrifice, grounded in obedience, and rich in transparency. By following His teachings, we can enjoy fulfilling and godly friendships that add immense value to our lives.
Even as we conclude this devotional, remember that your journey of understanding godly friendships according to Jesus’ teachings continues. May you live out these teachings in your daily interactions and relationships. So, let’s continue to learn, grow, and share together 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.
