This is My commandment, that you love one another as I loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. John 15:13
Beloved, where would we be without friends? My very first friend Trudy Moreno, we’re still friends, she lives in Dodge City, Kansas and I am in California. I saw her a couple of years ago, time stood still. She was four and I was seven-years-old when we met. Our worlds brought together by the world-wide web. Other grade school friends I met on that trip included Carol Reynolds and Sandra Madden. Sadly separated by miles. Then we have friends that we meet in school, neighbors, and work. And we can’t forget our internet buddies. Many of my internet friends, I have met. I consider them close friends.
John writes this letter to his beloved friend Gaius, whom he loves in truth. The art of writing letters has all but disappeared. But I still try to send cards to those I care about. In reading the commentary Dr. David Jeremiah shares in the Jeremiah Study Bible that the apostle John’s a “tiger” for the truth. John mentions “truth” 6 times in the 14 verses. The truth about Christ, “This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 1 John 2:6
Third John’s written to instruct believer’s of loving the truth and to walk in the truth. We must support God’s work. We read about truth, love, and hospitality. What more do we need in friendship? In friendship we need honesty and always tell the truth, we need to show love and always show hospitality.
Beloved, are you faithful in what you are doing? John addressing his friend in a letter says, “Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you.” What have you done for a stranger? The homeless man on the corner? A newly made friend on the internet needs some help?
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. I John 3:16
To my friends I hope you know how I cherish each one of you, you walk in the truth, you are faithful, you are steadfast.
Life Lesson: Make new friend but keep the old ones, one is silver and the other’s gold.
Song. Friends
Father God, the apostle John walked in truth, and instructs us to walk in truth. He teaches us faithfulness and steadfast in our faith. Thank you for your love and that we love one another. There is no greater love than what Jesus did for us in that he laid down his life for us and you have given us eternal life. Help us to be in your word daily, memorizing you word, renewing our minds Lord daily to seek you. We praise you Lord, In Jesus’ name. Amen.
