A Daily Devotion for Thursday, Nov. 20
- ontrakk
- Nov 20, 2025
- 2 min read
John 15:12-17
”My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit —fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.”
Jesus is speaking to his disciples and trying to comfort them. Jesus knew how difficult the next days and weeks (years!) would be for them. He lets them know that he chose them- they were not with him due to some fluke. Yet, we also know that they were very ordinary people, just like us. Jesus has also chosen me, and he has chosen each one of us to follow him. God’s will for us is something we need to look and listen for. This morning I am thinking about how wonderful it would be if Jesus could sit down for a few minutes with each one of us, and let us know exactly what our role in this tapestry should be. Prayer does bring us closer to Him, and gives us access to God’s will. And the Holy Spirit is our advisor, if we pay attention and listen. A lot is up to us, and if we ignore God’s direction, we will miss the way for sure.
Holy Lord, you are the light which I look for and follow in the darkness. Life can bring so many complicated situations and relationships to navigate. You, Lord are truth. Your love for your creation is unfathomable, constant and dependable. I am so grateful. Amen
Becky, transforming
John 15:12-17
This passage begins and ends with love. Jesus is telling me to love as he loves me. Then at the end he tells me to go out and spread that love around. Knowing you are loved by God isn't something you keep a secret. It is meant to be shared.
Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for choosing and loving me. Thank you for the gifts and talents you have given me that help me do your will and share your love.
John 16:12-17
I believe we are all chosen for a purpose on this earth. Sometimes we may not even know what that is but we all have our place. Annually approximately 146,000 individuals raise their hand to take the solemn oath of enlistment and enter military service in the United States. Each one of those hands represents someone who is willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice for the people of this country. By the grace of God, the overwhelming majority of the 146,000 return home to their loved ones and managed to stay out of harms way. Regretfully, there are individuals that do not and lives are changed forever. They are ones chosen for this sacrifice to our nation. I…
Thursday, November 20th, 2025
God chose me first
(Focus: children’s ministries
John 15:16
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
When "God chooses us ," it generally means that we have been selected by God for a special purpose, which can bring a sense of meaning and purpose to our life. This is in the belief that God's choice is an act of love and grace, not a reward for our accomplishments. This is an affirmation of our value to Him. It signifies being loved, being…
John 15:12-17
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Yesterday I read a news story about a young soldier’s years-long recovery from injuries sustained when he literally jumped on a grenade to save others in his unit. He lost his right eye and has endured over forty surgeries, but has recovered and is now a motivational speaker. The Holy Spirit had to have been deeply embedded in the soul of this young man for him to unhesitatingly make the split second decision to sacrifice himself for his fellow soldiers. This kind of sacrifice is extremely rare, but occurs often enough to bring Jesus’s words to life for us to consider. What is…