Childhood Christmas memories come in many different forms. So many of my Christmas memories are made up of the family Christmas tree. I have previously talked about the special, “family tree” ornaments: the gold, red, green and white star at the top of the tree (that was bought the year we moved to Kentucky because the angel stopped working,) to the ugly plastic bells, which are my priceless treasures (that were part of my parent’s first Christmas tree,) to the rocking horses (acquired when we first moved to Tennessee) and twelve days of Christmas globes at the bottom of the tree (that were purchased by someone very dear), they are all part of the Christmas memories and the story of the life of my family and close friends.
My mom had a friend of nearly seventy years. They kept in contact all of those years with handwritten letters. She would most always send mom a Christmas ornament of some kind each year. In the seventies/eighties the Christmas ornaments were hand painted ceramic. All of these gifts were special, but the most special gift was the gift of friendship they shared.
In John 15:14-17, Jesus is talking to His disciples, “The speaker of this verse, Jesus is addressing His disciples, {His friends,} during the Last Supper, imparting final teachings before His crucifixion.” 1
In verse 14, He is telling His disciples that the way to be His friend is to do the things He has instructed them to do.
He used the analogy of servant/master in this particular instruction. He told them that He no longer considered them servants because a servant would not have intimate knowledge of the things that the master is doing. But He had been sharing with them all the things that the Master had been telling Him, so by this He showed that He considered them His friends, not servants.
Jesus told them something that might have seemed strange to them. He told them that they did not choose Him, that He actually was the One that chose them. He chose them and He decreed that they would go out and bring forth fruit that would not wither away. He assured them that what ever they asked the Father for in the right spirit and in the name of Jesus, he may grant them.
Jesus re-emphasized that the things He had been teaching were His commands and that they are to love each other.
What are the things that challenge us as Christ followers today? Following God’s commandments can be a challenge because of all the voices around us that are telling us to go a different way. Another challenge is remaining close enough to Christ that we are His friends and a friend to others, to be able to love others.
How can we apply this to our lives? We should walk close enough to Christ that we will desire to obey His commands with our whole hearts. We should act as a friend to Jesus but live for Him like a servant. Cultivate relationships in your life that will assist you in loving others.
My faith is strengthened when I read the words of Jesus that tell me I am an intimate friend with Him. Everything I need to know in this world is in the Handbook He gave me, the Bible.
Lord, thank You for Your love and for Your friendship. Thank You for choosing me to follow You. Thank You for being my Friend above all drivers.
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“14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I 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 remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.” John 15:14-16 (NKJV)
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I feel that since God has given me the gift of this platform, I must always tell you about my Jesus.
What is your relationship to the all-knowing God of the universe? Do you know Jesus? Do you know the peace that can come only from an intimate relationship with Him? You can know Him. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, born into human flesh, sinless, crucified and giving His life freely, buried, arisen on the third day, will come into your life and change the outcome of your eternity. You just have to be willing to believe and accept His truth.
Here is an excellent website that can give you additional information about making your decision for Jesus Christ! PeaceWithGod.net
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1 BibleHub Online, Study Guide, John 15:14-17 (https://biblehub.com/john/15-14.htm)
Restricted Vision, Unburdened Sight 