Read John 15:9-17 + Philippians 2:1-5 in your personal Bible or at the link provided.
Review
- What did Jesus command in John 15?
- How did He show His love for us?
- How can we have His same attitude?
Reflect
Since the beginning of creation, meaningful relationships have been part of God’s purpose for His people. But because they’re so important, they’re also one of Satan’s targets for destruction. He is God’s enemy, and even though he’ll be defeated once and for all, he still has some influence to try to turn God’s people away from Him.
Relationships can be some of the most joyful parts of our lives, but they can also be some of the most painful. It’s inevitable that those we love will hurt us, whether they disappoint us, fail to meet our expectations, or even betray us. God’s Word repeatedly tells us to love others, but how can we do that when we’ve been hurt?
How you choose to handle the hurt will either launch you further into or hinder you from living out God’s purpose for your life. While some relationships end for healthy and safe reasons, there will be times when you’ll have a choice to either build a wall or a bridge between you and the other person. Don’t shut God out when you’re faced with that decision – let Him help you, for He is a God of hope and healing.
Respond
Consider your closest relationships. Do you see the words of John 15 and Philippians 2 being lived out? How is God calling you to take steps towards building or reinforcing a bridge? What are some actions steps you can implement this week to actively pursue this?