Becoming Like Jesus: CommunitySample

When It’s Hard

Pray …

Heavenly Father, thank You that You never give up on me. Thank You for Your grace that doesn’t run out and Your love that doesn’t let go. Help me embrace Your love today and persevere in loving others, even when it’s hard. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Consider …

Throughout this Plan, we’re going to continue busting myths about friendship. Today, we’re tackling this one:

Myth #2: Once I finally find the “right” people, this will be easy.

To address it, we’re going to dive right into Scripture and let Jesus adjust our expectations. Here’s what He said to His group of friends:

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.” John 15:12-17 NIV

That feels pretty clear, right? Jesus is straightforward about His command for us, what it means to be His friend, what love looks like, and the meaningful life that comes from being Jesus’ friend and follower. But then, Jesus takes a turn.

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.” John 15:18-21 NIV

It turns out that being chosen by Jesus has a cost. Being identified and associated with Him means we can expect people will treat us like they treated Him. But, why is He telling us all that?

“All this I have told you so that you will not fall away.” John 16:1 NIV

Jesus wants us to last for the long haul. He wants us to continue moving the mission forward till the day we die, so He’s open and honest. That’s what a good friend does. Jesus is basically saying, “Yes, it’s going to be hard, but you’re going to bear fruit. People are going to hate you, but you’re going to love each other the same way I have loved you. You’re going to feel like nobody likes you, but remember, I chose you.”

When we pursue Jesus’ vision for community, and we take His mission seriously, it might hurt and it will be hard, but it will be worth it. Paul says it like this:

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ Philippians 3:8 NLT

Peter’s version is:

Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! 1 Peter 4:12-16 NLT

These are Jesus’ friends, speaking to the early Church—the community of believers who changed the world so drastically that you and I, today, are part of what they started 2,000 years ago. It was hard. They got hurt. But, it was worth it.

To stay the course over the long haul, we have to bust the myth that once we finally find the “right” people, this will be easy. The truth that Jesus Himself did not shy away from is that this life will never be free from pain. It won’t always be easy to love people. If it was, God probably wouldn’t have to keep reminding us that that’s what it’s all about! To accomplish our God-given purpose, we have to pursue people, even when it’s painful—which is exactly what Jesus did. He pursued a relationship with us all the way to the cross, enduring that pain and choosing to lay down His life because that’s how much He loves us. There’s no relational pain you can experience that He’s unfamiliar with. No communal challenge that He can’t relate to and supply enough grace for. No wound that He hasn’t seen, felt, or is unable to heal.

Jesus gets it. And through every challenge you and your friends will face as you follow Jesus, you can have peace.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV

Practice …

In a journal, your notes app, or the discussion portion of this Bible Plan, write down your answers to these questions:

As you read the Scriptures today, make note of what stands out to you. What scares you? What comforts you? What would you like to remember next time you hit a hard patch with a friend? Find a verse from one of these passages and work on committing it to memory.

Listen …

Find a quiet place where you can continue to spend time with God. Maybe you have a favorite chair, a certain spot in your backyard, or a particularly cozy closet. Wherever you need to go to limit distractions, do it.

Set a timer for 5-10 minutes.

Ask God to speak to you.

When you get distracted in your mind, and you will, don’t beat yourself up. Instead, use it as a chance to practice coming back to Jesus by praying this prayer:

Lord Jesus, have mercy on me. Heavenly Father, speak to me. Holy Spirit, breathe on me.

When the timer ends, thank God for the time you spent together and go into your day looking for opportunities to love Him and love others.