John 15: 13 – 14
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.
We are missing the boat if we are restructuring our
churches to only become “friendly churches”. People do not need “friendly
churches" as much as they need "friends".
The Son of God invested so much to become our Friend. He came from the glory of heaven to be one of
us and he invested the sacrifice of his very life to be our Friend. He gave his
body and blood to be able to take us home to his Father and introduce us to God
as his friends.
Jesus did not choose us to become his servants, his
slaves - but called us to be his friends
and initiated us into the “inner circle” of the friendship of the Father and
the Son.
When we observe his command to love one another, we learn
how to share in the eternal friendship of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Taking his commandment to love one another to heart, we
have to accept his standard that there is no greater love than laying down your
life for one’s friends.
True Christian love, is sacrificial love.
And sacrificial love will change the world. It can change a community, a nation and a
country.
It will change a marriage and a family.
Sacrificial love will meet our need for friendship and
stamp out loneliness.
It will renew a Church!
Love is the supreme fruit of our lives. And it makes us
more than family - it makes us friends in Christ!
As we prepare to share in Holy Week from 13 – 20 April -
may our friendship grow in Christ,
and with Christ!
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