A Daily Devotion for Tuesday, June 16

John 15:9-17

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 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.”

Proverbs 17:17

A friend loves at all times,

and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

Today’s verses and devotion in the UR are so timely for me. As I got up this morning and was fixing my breakfast, before I even looked at the readings, I had the thought, “God, you have given me such a beautiful friend in Kenda!” I felt comforted at the thought that she is in my life and she cares about me. I hope that I can always be there for her when she needs me. There may be many people in our lives who we can call friends. These verses today remind us that just calling them friends is not enough. I need to be a friend for them, as well. I need to be available, willing to help, to listen, to encourage. Today, I am so very thankful, and start the day with a lighter heart because of my friend.

Holy Lord, thank you for the friendships you put in our lives. May we honor and cherish those friendships, and always give to them, in thanks to you for all we have received. Amen

Becky, transforming