This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 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. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”
John 15:12-17
Christ has a unique love for each one of us. In working his good purposes into our lives, his love flows to each of us specifically, according to the particular work he is doing in us to perfect us. In treating us as a friend he does not compare us one to another. His love focuses on each one of us individually according to his purposes and the work he is doing in each of us. So, we can feel absolutely secure in His love, rebuffing inner voices which may say we are less worthy than others of His friendship and work in our lives.
We may compare ourselves to others, often giving rise to shame, or pride. If shame, we feel ‘less than’, feeling that we’re probably not receiving the high esteem and delight we believe our Lord has for others, ‘better than ourselves’. Thus, we can feel ‘less than’ in our relationship with Him. But Jesus does not see us that way! There is no condemnation as He delights in us according to the unique person he has made us to be, His unique call and the particular work that He is doing in each of us, towards the perfection to which He is bringing each of us. His friendship with each one of us is special, unique and growing from the intimate love He has for each of us. You are, I am, we are His friends, having responded to His love for us and His call to love.
If we compare ourselves to others with pride, our claim to friendship with Jesus is hollow because we are not loving as He loves us.
So, as we contemplate the qualities of friendship that Jesus has with us, we realise that it is based-
in Jesus’ personally choosing us;
in the greatest love, which lays down His life for us;
on a call, a command, to live in ways that bring greatest good to us and others;
and in absolute trust whereby Jesus vulnerably reveals the intimacies He hears from His Father with us.
Rejoice and trust in Jesus’ unique friendship with you, loving Him more and working with Him in who He calls you to be and what He calls you to do!
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