Circles of Intimacy

Today's Daily Reading is from Stasi's new book The Ladder of Love, releasing on October 6 — pre-order your copy today!

Jesus says, “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15 nasb).

We are His friends.

This elevation of relationship with Jesus is amazing. It was unheard of in biblical times. He chose us.

His choice flows out of His great affection for us. His yearning for a deeper connection with us comes from His uncompromising passion and desire for us to know more of Him.

During His earthly ministry Jesus had friends here, and just like us, He had circles of intimacy, His closest being the Twelve. But even among His circle of the twelve disciples, He had one that was closest— John the Beloved.

John was the one leaning against Jesus’s chest at the Last Supper. Talk about intimacy. He knew he was welcomed there. When Jesus said “One of you will betray me,” Peter wanted to know who He meant, so he asked John to ask Jesus who he was.

Peter knew that because of John and Jesus’s intimate friendship, Jesus would tell him! Jesus would share the secrets of His heart with John . . . secrets that He didn’t just tell everyone. Peter was right. Jesus did. He confided in him.

A father loves his children beyond telling, but he does not always confide in them. A brother knows the inside story but, for many reasons, doesn’t always confide either.

Oh, the honor of this level of relationship with Jesus! We too can tell Jesus the secrets of our hearts. And now, as His friends, He will tell us His. We don’t need to hold back from Him. We can put our toes back in the water. We can be utterly ourselves with Him. He is our Friend. He enjoys being with us. He loves the unique way we are fashioned. He wants to spend time with us.

Want more? Pre-order your copy of The Ladder of Love today