Becoming Like Jesus: Scripture MemorizationSample

He Calls Us Friends

Pray…

Father, your love is too much to even begin to understand. You created the universe so you could have a relationship with us. Even after we sinned against you, you still sent Jesus to die for us on the cross. And even now, you call us your sons and daughters. You invite us to be a part of your Kingdom. Help me to live a life worthy of the calling you’ve given me and the love you’ve shown me. I don’t take it for granted. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Read…

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 15:13-17 NIV

Consider…

These words were spoken by Jesus to His disciples just before being arrested and condemned to death on a cross. He wanted them to know what true love was going to look like. A display that would become more real than any of them likely realized when Jesus would put His words into action through His willing sacrifice. It’s in this exchange, that Jesus tells them something profound: “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends…” Jesus, the rightful king of Creation, calls us friends.

Do you see Jesus as a friend? Or is He more like an acquaintance? Do you imagine Him as a kind and gracious king? Or a cruel and malicious one? Examine how your perception of Jesus compares to the truth of what we find in Scripture. Wherever you find something that’s off, ask God to reshape your understanding of Jesus to be more in line with who He really is.

Practice…

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.1 Peter 2:9-10 NIV

First, write these words down in your journal, on a piece of paper, or on a note card. Next, close your eyes and try to say these words the best you can from memory. After that, read these words again slowly, and out loud. Then, write them down one more time. Finally, pray and ask God to help you internalize the truth of these words.

Listen…

Set a timer for five minutes.

Find a quiet place and get alone with God. Maybe it’s outside, in your bedroom, or in your car. Just be still and listen to what God may be saying to you.

Ask Him to speak.

When you get distracted from your listening, come back to Jesus by meditating on your memory verse. Ask the Holy Spirit to change you to look more like Jesus today.