Devotionals

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Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13 NAS)

When Lisa received the tragic news of her husband's death in Iraq from his fellow military officers, her friend Diana was with her. The next morning, Diana took over to call Lisa's friends and family to tell them what happened. She shielded Lisa from media phone calls, drove to Dallas to pick up Lisa's mother-in-law at the airport, babysat Lisa's daughter, cooked, and cleaned Lisa's house.

"I absolutely could not have functioned without Diana," says Lisa. "I can't even fathom what that night would have been like without her. After George died, a lot of people treated me differently. I guess they didn't know how to act. But nothing changed between me and Diana."

That was a true story shared at RedBookMag.com about the friendship and bond between Lisa Morrissey and Diana Stefaniak.

In the Gospel of John, a story was recorded of a similar friendship and bond. Jesus loved the siblings, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. So when Jesus saw Mary weeping for her brother, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled. Jesus wept (John 11:5, 33, 35).

On another occasion, Jesus said to His disciples, "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you."

By this, the Lord declared His friendship with us—one that has no greater love than to lay down His life for His friends (John 15:15, 13).

In a sense, this means Jesus is our bestie, our best of friends, because He gave up His all to save us, and we are friends of God because we abide in Him and He in us (1 John 4:13-14).

How should we then respond to such a friend as He? Do we spend time with our Lord to grow our friendship studying His word and praying regularly? Do we share our worries, sorrows, cares, sadness, happiness and joy with Him? Do we stand by our Friend no matter what happens?

As friends of Jesus and of God, let us be found faithful to stand by our faith regardless the sorrows we face or the pains we endure following Him. Even if the world forsakes us or treats us differently because of our failures or misfortune, our Lord will not abandon us, for He does not change. If we have cares or worries, let us bring them to Him because He cares for us.

Who are we, dear Lord, that You count us worthy to be Your friend? You see our hearts and heal us where we need Your touch. You understand us deep down and never let us down. You love and care for us more than any best friend we know or have. You are always near to comfort us in our times of sadness and despair. Our worries and cares You have carried, and our sorrows You have turned into gladness. Mourning and sighing flee from us for You have turned them into joy and thanksgiving. Draw us close to You as we study Your word and pray, for we long to grow our friendship with You.

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