Love’s Journey to the Cross – Lent Reflections
Love means laying down your life – John 15:9-15
We continue to countdown the days of Lent towards Easter Sunday, as we focus on dying to our selves and living free in Christ, as we focus on love’s journey to the cross, on how God deeply loves us and calls us to love one another.
Open your heart and reflect with me…
Who have you been a friend to?
How do you show love to your friends?
Do you…
…write a note of encouragement?
Share your favourite toy, game, or activity with them?
Share a meal with them?
Offer to babysit?
Clean their kitchen?
Move their piano?
Surprise them by washing their car?
Give them a ride?
Go with them to an important doctor’s appointment?
Offer a listening ear when they are hurt?
Do you regularly pray with and for them?
…But, would you even be willing to die for them?
In John 15, Jesus invites you to first linger with Him, to sit with Him, to curl up like a child beside Him, to walk with Him, to do life ongoing with Him, to see life through His eyes, …to enjoy living deeply with your Creator and Saviour who rescues you… and then…
…He teaches …that you celebrate your friendship with Him when you give your life for your friends. And when you love like He loves, He calls you ‘friend’.
Are you aware of His presence and His love for you in every moment?
May you linger with Him.
May you receive and dig deeply in His love
…so that …you may show His love to your friends.
Jesus said… in John 15…
9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Do you know anyone who has died for you?
His name is Jesus, and He died for you, so that you may live in freedom, to be called ‘friend’ with Almighty God, and then to show His love with one another.
14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
Pray…
Jesus, you are our greatest friend. You were scoffed at and called a “friend of sinners”. But, you didn’t turn away from us in disgust and embarrassment. You went to the cross, to hell and back for us. You love us so much that you willingly went through torture and death for us. And you defeated death so that we can live in freedom. Thank you that you don’t call us slaves, but friends. Help us to show your sacrificial love to others. Amen.
Following and Trusting 