John 15:12-15 (the Message) To Risk or Not To Risk, That Is The Question?

This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father. 

Observation:

Christ risks everything, gives everything so that love would take root in his friends hearts. He calls all of those who keep His commands, friends. These commands are kept because of the friendship, the love relationship. In this love relationship, Christ shares the Father's heart with us; to a certain extent we are in on the plans of God. The friendship that Jesus is talking about here goes deeper than how we define friendship in this culture, even in Christian culture. Friendship in Christian culture says I'm your friend and I give as long as I see the results I want from our friendship. There is no risk in this type of friendship, there is always a pull out clause that allows us to abandon the friendship if things don't work out like we want them to. I'm grateful Christ risked everything to be my friend, even when it  didn't look like it would pay off.

Application:

Loving this way, this deep, is very difficult for me. I can love like this with my husband, with my children, but with friends? Forget it. The first thought that comes to my mind is all the betrayal I've received from friends, even Christian ones. I think there is something to be said about choosing your friends wisely. Christ called the disciples and us friends because we do His commands. I think we should also choose friends that obey the commands of God. That doesn't protect us from getting hurt, but we know that God is sowing something greater in us and in that friendship.  The friendships that I struggle with the most now are the friendships where I question their heart to please God versus self. I'm not sure how to respond to the inner turmoil I feel when I'm around them. Should I love deeply and risk big, or is it foolish to risk and love in these relationships? I don't know the answer to that.

Prayer:

Father, You call us to love deeply and to lay our life down for our friends. I have Christian friends that I struggle with loving deeply. Some because of multiple past offenses and others because I questions their heart motive. Please help me to love them and all my friends the way that You love them. Please reveal Your truth to me, Your heart, I want to be obedient in all things, but especially love.