Everything You NeedSample

Day 2) The People We Love

How To Love Like Jesus:

1) Lay Down Your Life

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:12-13).

Do you find yourself worried about the people who mean a lot to you? Jesus can sympathize with this feeling. His choice to come to Earth was driven by His Love for us, knowing that it was only through laying down His Life that we could have a relationship with Him.

When it comes to the people God places in our lives, we are called to demonstrate Jesus’ Sacrifice by serving them. Even when it’s difficult or when it feels like we don’t have much to give, we are called to meet the needs of those He places in our path.

2) Share What God Says

“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15).

Servants serve a purpose without requiring a relationship. Friends, on the other hand, are people we choose to be present with us, regardless of what they can do for us. Jesus was speaking to His disciples—His friends—and He told them that everything He heard from His Father, He had made known to them.

For us, truly loving people means sharing Truth with them. God’s Word, the Bible, is the only Source of Perfect Truth. We are never more loving than when we hear from God through reading His Word and then share what we’ve learned with others.

3) Expect Nothing In Return

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you” (John 15:16).

Jesus laid down His Life for all of Humanity, fully knowing that not everyone would believe in Him. He chooses us, even when we don’t choose Him.

In the same way, genuine love in our relationships means caring for others without expecting anything in return. When you view the relationships in your life as opportunities to serve rather than be served, fear and selfishness cannot remain.

Big Idea: To love like Jesus, we must lay down our lives by selflessly serving others, boldly sharing God’s Word, and loving unconditionally without expecting anything in return. True Love reflects Jesus’ Sacrifice and transforms our relationships into opportunities to give, not receive.

Let's Think About This:

Question 1) When you think about the future, how do you feel about your relationships? Do you feel hopeful, nervous, or something else?

Question 2) Can you recall a time when you served someone without expecting anything in return? What was that experience like for you?

Question 3) What does it mean to lovingly share Biblical Truth with the people in your life?