Daily Devotional for Tuesday, May 12

Jesus and His Disciples

“Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations,” Luke 22:28.

In a national survey of adults conducted in May 2024, it was found that twenty-one percent of adults in America suffer daily from loneliness. They reported feeling disconnected from friends, family and the world. In the age of social media, a person may have hundreds of friends and followers but no true friends. This is a sad reality for a generation that deeply desires community but often forfeits real relationships for an illusion of friendships. In life, it is regretful that one may have many acquaintances but few deep relationships. Many also believe they have good friends until they go through hard times, only to find out their friends are nowhere to be found.

With all that had taken place and would take place in the coming days Jesus, with the tenderest grace, recognizes the disciple’s unswerving loyalty to him. Their faithfulness was in stark contrast with the betrayal of Judas Iscariot. Jesus most assuredly knew that His sheep would soon be scattered and that even Peter would deny Him in a few short hours. This did not stop Jesus from recognizing their faithfulness up to this point.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Jesus recognized His faithful and true friends and promised them a great reward and a kingdom. Jesus is truly desirous of our affections and loyalties and will never forget them.

Jonathon D. Smith