Excerpted from Follow Jesus on the Stations of the Cross
Everyone longs for a soul friend, but most don’t know how to develop one. Come to the cross of Christ with me. Open your heart and together we’ll experience resurrection life to share with others!
This devotional continues my series of posts on the ancient Stations of the Cross.
Read Scripture: Jesus Connects his Mother and John
“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Dear woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home” (John 19:25-27).
Pray the Scripture
Lord Jesus Christ, as you hung on the cross Mary stood faithfully at your side, along with John and three other women. Soon Mary wouldn’t see you anymore and you didn’t want her to be lonely, so to help her trust in your spiritual presence with her- you gave her your beloved disciple to be her soul friend. Like Mary, I need to make a soul friend at your cross.
O Jesus, I want to hold you in my heart always and I need soul friends to bring me back to your cross and help me see that your arms are open to me. Help me to develop friendships centered in you and to share my heart with these friends. Help me to be a soul friend that draws people closer to you and your cross.
Reflect
Do you have a soul friend who helps you connect deeply with Christ and his cross? Who can you be a soul friend to? What can you do to bless this friend in the coming days?
Take up your Cross to Follow Jesus
Open up some time in your schedule to show concern for your friends and their relationship with Christ. By offering yourself as a soul friend to another you will both draw closer to Jesus Christ as your eternal Soul Friend.
Breathe a Prayer
“Jesus… I behold you with my friend”
More Soul Shepherding
“Deep-Spirited Friendships.” You long for one. Here’s what they look like and what the Bible teaches us about growing in this way of the soul.
