Family Devotion Guide
Sunday, September 6, 2020

Jesus’ Friends
John 15:12-17

ASK

Jesus’ Friends Love Him and Each Other

Parents, ask your children “what do you love about your friends?”

Jesus calls believers friends in this passage of scripture. The word friend captures a unique aspect of the believer’s communion with Jesus. As friends of Jesus, we enjoy His company, we do His will joyfully, and we are humbled to know that He has appointed us to be His friends. Since Jesus calls us His friends, we must love Him and each other. Jesus loved us so much that He died for us.

Jesus’ Friends Have Access to Him and His Truth

Parents, ask your children, “Do you share your secrets with your closest friends? Why?”

Jesus mentions that He does not call us slaves but friends. He mentions that we are His friends because He shares with us divine truth. There are no secrets between Jesus and His friends.

Jesus’ Friends Are Appointed by Him

Think about it! You can be a friend of the most powerful being in the universe. You can be God’s friend. Being Jesus’ friend is such a great privilege, but there can be pride that accompanies such a privilege. This is why Jesus reminds the disciples and us that He chose us and appointed us as friends. Jesus did not choose us because we were good. On the contrary, the Bible says that we were enemies of Jesus which is the opposite of being His friend. He died and appointed us to be His friend.

PRAY

—Pray that you will become Jesus’ friend through salvation. If you are not saved, pray that God would save you.

—Pray that if you are God’s friend you will abide in Jesus and in His word.

—Pray that you would love God and people.

—Pray that God would use you as His friend to share the gospel with others.