Devotional Day 2: Jesus, The Friend Who Stayed

Scripture:
“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:12-13 (NLT)

Reflection:
Have you ever had a friend who stuck by you when everyone else walked away? I recall a season in my life where I felt like I had messed everything up. I expected judgment, but instead, a close friend sat with me in the mess. They didn’t offer clichés; they just provided presence. That loyalty changed me.

Jesus is the ultimate expression of that “stick-with-you” love. He didn’t just shout instructions from heaven; He came down into the dust and dirt of our reality. He walked where we walk, felt the betrayal we feel, and wept the tears we cry. But He went further than any earthly friend ever could. He laid down His life to bridge the gap between God the Father and us. Jesus isn’t just a historical figure or a moral teacher; He is the Son who became our Savior, proving that God isn’t afraid of our brokenness. He moved toward us when we were running away. That is a friendship that anchors the soul.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for calling me friend. Thank you for not leaving me in my mess but coming to rescue me. Teach me to trust in Your sacrificial love and to be a friend to others as You are to me. Amen.