Quote: “God loves you so much, He has your name tattooed on His hand.” – anonymous, but based on Isaiah 49:16
Scripture: John 15:16 CSB – “You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.”
Some Thoughts: I’ve always thought that John was Jesus’ “favorite” disciple. John 21:20 reads: “Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, ‘Lord, who is the one who betrays You?’ “ I’ve wondered exactly what it was about John that Jesus loved? Was he always obedient? Did he have a loving personality? Did Jesus love John more than the others?
The words “the disciple whom Jesus loved” is only in John’s gospel. It is not in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. It is a phrase that John used to describe himself. That’s interesting.
In describing himself as “the disciple Jesus loved”, John was practicing and personalizing the love that Jesus had for him. It doesn’t seem like John had an identity issue. He just knew and accepted that Jesus loved him. We can personalize that love, just like John does.
God doesn’t play “favorites”. I am the disciple Jesus loves! We are all loved disciples! God doesn’t expect us to fulfill someone else’s calling. He doesn’t compare us to others, why should we? I’m glad for the reminder that I, Diana, am the disciple Jesus loves. What if we signed our letters, emails, or Christmas cards: “I am the disciple God loves” or “I am a loved disciple?” That might cause someone to think “Hmmmmm.”
Prayer: Lord, may we believe that we each are a “disciple dearly loved.” Help me to love those who are not easy to love. Forgive me, Lord, for the times I may have avoided those I find it hard to love. Forgive me for not praying for the “hard to love” people. You paid a costly price when You “so loved the world that You sent Your only begotten Son.” Thank You that I am a dearly loved disciple.
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Thank you for this prayer. It refreshed and enhanced my prayers for the same!
Thank you Lord for these words. Forgive me for forgetting sometimes each of us is loved by you and help me pray and love those who are hard to love. And sometimes Im the one who is hard to love but You do 🙂
I also am “sometimes I’m the one who is hard to love, but You do.” God doesn’t find it hard to love, but I make it “hard” because I don’t accept or believe that He loves me as much as He does! Thank you for your thoughts.
This is one of the reminders I constantly need when I interact with people. Jesus loved them all.
Amen. Seeing them through a different lens.
Great thoughts on both levels, loving myself and not comparing.. also, loving others right where they are. ❤️