This
is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we
ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16 NIV
Jesus didn’t
just lie down and quietly go to sleep. He went through the agonizing painful
death on the cross after suffering a humiliating beating and chastising with
Roman soldiers spitting in His face and ripping out His beard. Ugh! He gave up
His dignity for us. He suffered brutal lashing with nails tied to the whipping cords
causing Him to bleed more for us. Blood trickled down His brow under a crown of
thorns. His hands and feet bored the wounds of spikes and His side was pierced
with a spear…for us. He laid down His life for us…His friends. What a friend we
have in Jesus…all our sins He took to that cross. He was sinless…and yet He was
willing to take our sins to the cross so that we can one day appear before the
throne of God pure and holy—without sin and be welcomed into heaven. Only
purity can be in the presence of God.
Training Tip – Talk a with your children once again about friends—what
it takes to be a good friend. Develop an acrostic with them to help them
explore ideas on friendship. Here’s one to start the ideas flowing.
F – Fun loving
R – Resourceful
I – Interested in same things
E - Encouraging
N – Not negative or boring
D - Devoted
Just considering
some of these ideas is good. How do you and your children see yourselves as
friends? How would Jesus fit with these qualities of a friend? Consider what it
means to “lay down your life for your friends.” Can you do that?
Lord Jesus, You are an awesome friend—and Savior. I
don’t know if I could actually give up my life for a friend—but I would if I
had to. Help me to be a better friend to those around me by giving them more of
my time, energy, and encouragement.
All
scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise
noted.
© 2013 by Mickey
M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
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