DAILY DEVOTIONAL: WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2020
SCRIPTURE READING
John 15:15a Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends;
When I was a child and my mother would tell me to do something, I was always asking her, “Why?” My mother would tell me to comb my hair and I’d ask “Why?” She’d tell me not to eat chocolate chips from the bag up in the kitchen cabinet and I’d ask “Why not?”
When I asked “why,” my mother would answer, “Because I said so; that’s why.” My mother was teaching me I was a child and had no right to know why she made the decisions she made. She was my mother and she had the right to give me commands I didn’t understand.
Servants or slaves are also to obey their masters without knowing why. This is what Jesus means when he says, “the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth.” The servant has no right to know why the master does this or does not do that; why the master orders him to do this or not do that.
But friends are different. We tell our friends things we don’t tell our children, servants, and employees.
Here Jesus is saying to His disciples that, even though He’s their Master, He considers them His friends. He’s not going to call them “servants” anymore. Now He’s going to call them “friends.”
Tomorrow when we study the second half of this verse, we’ll learn that, because Jesus calls His disciples “friends,” He will tell them what His Father told Him. What a privilege it is to be Jesus’ friend and have Him teach us!
Scripture: John 15:15a Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends;
QUESTIONS
- When your Daddy tells you to do something, does he owe you an explanation?
- Did Jesus owe his disciples explanations?
- When Jesus calls His disciples “friend,” what privilege do they get?
SONG OF THE WEEK
Fairest Lord Jesus
Fairest Lord Jesus! Ruler of all nature,
O Thou of God and man the Son!
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
Thou, my soul’s Glory, Joy, and Crown!
Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming garb of spring:
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
Who makes the woeful heart to sing.
Fair is the sunshine, Fairer still the moonlight
And all the twinkling starry host:
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer,
Than all the angels heaven can boast.
Beautiful Savior! Lord of the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
Now and forevermore be Thine!
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Dear Father,
Thank you for sending Jesus not just to be our Lord and Master, but our friend. We were your enemies, and we often still rebel against You. It would be an honor to be a slave in Your house, and You have made us so much more. Would You forgive us our sins, and help us to obey you? Would You help us to live lives worthy of those whom the Lord Jesus would call His friends? In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
SCRIPTURE MEMORY THIS WEEK
John 15:9-10 (KJV)
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
