John 17
6 “I have revealed you[a] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of[b] your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by[c] that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by[d] the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Jesus is talking to His heavenly Father about the disciples in vs. 6-19.
He refers to the disciples as "those whom you gave me" and clarifies that they were God's property to give. Christ reminds his heavenly Father that He followed instructions by giving them the words God gave Christ and that not only did they accept what was told them but they also recognized who Christ was. Christ shows concern for His friends in the reality that persecution would definately befall them after His departure from this world. He asks the heavenly Father to protect them by the power of His name. My heart is warmed by this request. Even though Christ and His Father are one, he is compassionate and humble enough to request protection and to acknowledge the absolute divinity held by God the Father. A place that only God can hold and whom only God can be. How amazing an example and how humble a prayer. So reverent, so godly.
He states that the GLORY came to Christ from the disciples. (glory has come to me through them.) What an honor - a truly humble honor for them to have. Christ states that He protected the disciples while here with them and notes that He did not lose even one of them to persecution. The only individual who suffered any type of destruction was Satan while Christ was here on earth. This section is only talking about the disciples and not the world or entire body of believers. Christ references similarities between himself and the disciples as well when He says .."They are not of the world, even as I am not of it." These men were chosen men of God and to me it is amazing to see how their dedication to Christ allowed them the passage of santification, the honor of being able to provide Christ glory and an equality with the Saviour. Christ sanctifies himself so that the disciples may be sanctified. So for the sole purpose of wanting them to be "set apart" He set Himself apart. Another example of His selflessness etched in the permanence of God's Word. Christ was looking out for His followers and wanted them to not only be sanctified but TRULY sanctified.
Showing posts with label gifts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gifts. Show all posts
Friday, October 19, 2012
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
In Like a Lion
February is the shortest month of the year but it seems to last forever!! Then, as we emerge on the other side, March awaits us in all its raging glory! The winds blow, the snow falls, the mud swallows up anything brave enough to cross its threshold, the icicles hang sideways and the birds sing mightily. Crazy!
As I venture out for my morning walk on this mild March morning, I am reminded of what Paul said about “putting off the old man” (Ephesians 4:22-24) and also how he himself struggled with doing what he didn’t want to do (Romans 7:14-25).
Just as the seasons battle year after year, so we battle constantly over the sin nature. Our sin nature, or old self, is powerful, terrifying and sometimes immense. Sounds like it’s hopeless, doesn’t it? Our “new man”, the person we are with the help and saving grace of God is radiant, steadfast and enduring. We should hold godly characteristics like kindness, gentleness and humility. II Corinthians 5:21 says “God made Him (Christ) who had no sin, to be sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” To be sin…Christ had never had a mean thought, never talked back to His parents, never stole anything, never kicked the dog, never was vengeful to anyone, been jealous or envious or anything! Then He became all that sin is. It’s ugly, full of guilt, hateful, angry, dirty and lost. Think about what your core self feels like when you knowingly have done something wrong. Now multilply that not only by all the things you have done in your own life, but what about all the people you know and all the people who have lived and died since Christ was on the earth.
It is incomprehensible what that must have been like for Christ and yet we take this gift of salvation and eternal life for granted.
Take some time this month of March to evaluate your growth and your battle. Is the Lamb of God winning that battle over the “old man”? Have you surrendered the battle to Christ to let Him fight for you?
As I venture out for my morning walk on this mild March morning, I am reminded of what Paul said about “putting off the old man” (Ephesians 4:22-24) and also how he himself struggled with doing what he didn’t want to do (Romans 7:14-25).
Just as the seasons battle year after year, so we battle constantly over the sin nature. Our sin nature, or old self, is powerful, terrifying and sometimes immense. Sounds like it’s hopeless, doesn’t it? Our “new man”, the person we are with the help and saving grace of God is radiant, steadfast and enduring. We should hold godly characteristics like kindness, gentleness and humility. II Corinthians 5:21 says “God made Him (Christ) who had no sin, to be sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” To be sin…Christ had never had a mean thought, never talked back to His parents, never stole anything, never kicked the dog, never was vengeful to anyone, been jealous or envious or anything! Then He became all that sin is. It’s ugly, full of guilt, hateful, angry, dirty and lost. Think about what your core self feels like when you knowingly have done something wrong. Now multilply that not only by all the things you have done in your own life, but what about all the people you know and all the people who have lived and died since Christ was on the earth.
It is incomprehensible what that must have been like for Christ and yet we take this gift of salvation and eternal life for granted.
Take some time this month of March to evaluate your growth and your battle. Is the Lamb of God winning that battle over the “old man”? Have you surrendered the battle to Christ to let Him fight for you?
Friday, February 22, 2008
T is for Talents
Luke 19:11-27
Talents. Aaahh, yes. Used to be that talents meant a measure of money. One talent was equal to $1000 in today’s money. Pretty impressive when you stop to think about it! I wonder if I can talk my boss into giving me a $1000 to take care of next time he goes away?! Anyway, today we will look at talents as abilities. Everyone has some sort of talent. Some people can cook, some can clean, some can organize, some can sing, some are great listeners, others mechanical geniuses and still others have fiscal abilities. The list is extensive. Our talents are as different as our DNA. Sadly, I was away from the church for awhile and had turned my back on Jesus. My talents were not being used to even the most remote portion of their abilities. So I was the last servant in this parable. However, as the tap on my shoulder grew more persistent, I finally looked to my Saviour again to deliver me from myself. The more conscientious an effort I make to surrender to Him and be in His will, the more talents I discover I have! If Christ were to return today, I am confident that I would be closer to “a good and faithful servant” than I have ever been before. So many people I can in contact with say “I don’t know what the Lord wants me to do.” Yet, they don’t try to do anything. It’s almost as if they are waiting for a bolt of lighting to come down or a pillar of smoke to lead the way. The disciples certainly didn’t sit and wait in a dark room for direction. They went out and told people about Christ and if the Holy Spirit directed them in a different direction while they were ministering, they followed that leading. He can’t lead you somewhere if you aren’t walking anywhere. So start trying the doors and see which one opens for you.
Are you burying your talents or are you allowing the Holy Spirit to develop them for the betterment of the Body of Christ?
Many times He speaks softly so we need to be quiet to hear.
Talents. Aaahh, yes. Used to be that talents meant a measure of money. One talent was equal to $1000 in today’s money. Pretty impressive when you stop to think about it! I wonder if I can talk my boss into giving me a $1000 to take care of next time he goes away?! Anyway, today we will look at talents as abilities. Everyone has some sort of talent. Some people can cook, some can clean, some can organize, some can sing, some are great listeners, others mechanical geniuses and still others have fiscal abilities. The list is extensive. Our talents are as different as our DNA. Sadly, I was away from the church for awhile and had turned my back on Jesus. My talents were not being used to even the most remote portion of their abilities. So I was the last servant in this parable. However, as the tap on my shoulder grew more persistent, I finally looked to my Saviour again to deliver me from myself. The more conscientious an effort I make to surrender to Him and be in His will, the more talents I discover I have! If Christ were to return today, I am confident that I would be closer to “a good and faithful servant” than I have ever been before. So many people I can in contact with say “I don’t know what the Lord wants me to do.” Yet, they don’t try to do anything. It’s almost as if they are waiting for a bolt of lighting to come down or a pillar of smoke to lead the way. The disciples certainly didn’t sit and wait in a dark room for direction. They went out and told people about Christ and if the Holy Spirit directed them in a different direction while they were ministering, they followed that leading. He can’t lead you somewhere if you aren’t walking anywhere. So start trying the doors and see which one opens for you.
Are you burying your talents or are you allowing the Holy Spirit to develop them for the betterment of the Body of Christ?
Many times He speaks softly so we need to be quiet to hear.
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