How Does Friendship With Jesus Change Us?
Theme For The Week: Our main text for this series of devotionals is from Luke 8.1-3. You can listen to teaching on this passage here: (part 1), (part 2) & (part 3).
Intro Prayer: “Jesus, please help me in this time to be fully present to You and to myself that I may commune with You for the sake of your glory and the world around me.”
Silence: In this time, try and become silent before the Lord both internally and externally for 5 minutes. If your mind wanders, gently bring it back to stillness.
Praise: Bless the Lord by declaring these truths about Him!
“You are my king and you are kind. You are my keeper and my kinsmen redeemer. Your are the king of kings and your Kingdom is good news! You hold the keys of death and Hades and true life is found in knowing you.”
Devotional: They say that our lives reflect the characteristics of our five closest friends. Intuitively we know this. Our friends change us. As a parent, one of my primary concerns for my kids is related to who are their friends, because friendship has such a powerful effect on our lives, values, and development. So how does friendship with Jesus change us?
The lives of Peter and John are case studies of how friendship with Jesus changes us. Aristotle said, “Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow ripening fruit.” The desire to be friends with someone can come in a moment, but real friendship takes time to develop- decades not days. Years of friendship with Jesus significantly transformed Peter and John and gave them a vision and the character to give their lives as a gift to the world.
Peter was known for being a loose cannon, hot one minute, cold the next. But friendship with Jesus, over the years of his life, developed him into a faithful, steady and courageous leader.
John was known as a son of thunder, because of his quick temper. But friendship with Jesus, over the years of his life, developed him into a man marked by love.
How is the slow ripening fruit of friendship with Jesus changing you?
Scripture: Read today’s text slowly. Feed your spirit on the words. Your goal in this time is to commune with Jesus through His Word. Take note as you sense His Presence.
Acts 4.13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
Worship: Worship forms the truths of Scripture deep within our lives. This week we will be worshipping to the song Friend of God and letting that truth shape our lives.
Listen: Take time to listen to the Holy Spirit. Write down anything you sense the Lord speaking.
Obedience: What from today is the Lord calling you to put in practice? Could be to pray for someone, to call someone, to serve someone etc.