Verse of the Day 3/5
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. New King James Version (NKJV)
In the verses below Jesus speaks about the characteristics of love and the qualities of a friend, a true friend. Laying down your life, putting it all on the line for someone is sacrificial love. These words come from the One who made the greatest sacrifice of all time; coming from heaven to earth to lay down His life for all of us.
In reference to today's verse, author and pastor Henry Blackaby shares some other qualities of "a true friend", he writes, "A friend trusts! A friend responds to requests! A friend loves! A friend risks everything for another! A friend knows the voice of the Lord! A friend is available and responsive! A friend never hesitates even when he does not know all the facts! It is enough that his friend has spoken!"
Notice how after each of those qualities, those characteristics of a true friend that he adds an exclamation point. An exclamation point is used to highlight, to draw special attention to the sentence. It is to help us focus in on something that is important.
The word has been "watered down" in our society. Some people have hundred or even thousands of "friends" on Facebook or other social media. But the type of friend referenced by Blackaby or by Jesus are few and far between. If we are Christians we know that we have One, hopefully we have a few more. But what kind of friend are we?
Today's verse shows us that the true friend is someone who shows such sacrificial love to his friends.
All our sins and griefs to bear
And what a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer
-- In Christ, Mike Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. NIV
John 15:12-17 English Standard Version (ESV)
12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants,[a] for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
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