Part of raising children is teaching them how to be good friends. When Jesus came it was written peace on earth and goodwill (friendliness/kindness) toward men. We learn how to be good friends by first being friends of God. We earn this privilege when we mature into obedience of His word. God’s greatest commandment is to love. When we abide in His love our joy is made full and there is no greater love than to lay down your life for a friend. The world would call this “ride or die”. It always amazes me how the world uses Godly principles unknowingly. (I believe since we were made in God’s image, His principles are already engrafted in us but if we don’t seek Him first they get perverted).So a ride or die friend is someone who you would do anything for. You have their back no matter what because you don’t want to see them get hurt. My 4 year old son was in children’s church this Sunday and on the car ride home he told me that his friend hurt him. He was playing around and it was an accident. I asked him if he had told the teacher. He didn’t because he didn’t want his friend to get in trouble. He was hurt enough that he felt that he should tell me, but ultimately he was okay. He was laying his life down for His friend. As I thought on this, I also realized that he does this for his sisters. If they are in their room being “too quiet” I’ll ask him what they are doing and if his response is “I don’t know. They are in their room” I know that they are getting into something mischievous. I am in no way condoning lying. My point is that I have not taught him to do this. He has somehow found the love that causes him to want to protect. Now it is my job to not let the enemy pervert it. I need to teach boundaries and truth. I have to set a standard of the Word in his heart so he can judge when it is appropriate to protect or will protecting them actually cause injury in the end. A friend loves at all times (Prov. 17:17). Sometimes exposing for correction is the best type of love. The only way our children will get this right at a young age is if we not only impart it into them, but also model this by example. They are our disciples and will follow our wisdom or foolishness (whichever we provide)!
John 15:9-17
Love and Joy Perfected
9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 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 remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.
Father we thank You for Your friendship. We thank You that there is fullness of joy in Your love. Forgive us for not exemplifying the kind of love that You have instructed us to have. Teach us how to model this love and train our children to do so also. We want to be good friends to You and to others also. We want our children to use the principles of God without any perversion from the enemy. We want them to bear fruit that remains. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
John 15:9-17
Love and Joy Perfected
9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 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 remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.
Father we thank You for Your friendship. We thank You that there is fullness of joy in Your love. Forgive us for not exemplifying the kind of love that You have instructed us to have. Teach us how to model this love and train our children to do so also. We want to be good friends to You and to others also. We want our children to use the principles of God without any perversion from the enemy. We want them to bear fruit that remains. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!