REFLECTIONS

Jesus’ Big Ask (Part 2)

Just as Jesus prayed for his disciples before sending them to “go and make disciples of all nations,” (Matthew 28:19) he prayed for you and me. “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.” (John 17:20) So from Jesus’ disciples we learned of God’s word, of his son, Jesus the Christ, and of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.

Jesus continued to pray, “that all of [us] may be one. Father, just as you are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:21-23)

Jesus’ prayer might have been the inspiration for Apostle Paul to write, “ Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” (Romans 12:1, 3-8)

Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13-14) So, he prayed, “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” (John 17:20-24, emphasis mine) So he gave his life so we would be there with him.

It’s a big ask to “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” But God isn’t asking that we work alone. He gave us different gifts brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Jesus gave his life so “… those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” Here’s our part in it.

“Love one another,” and as one body “…go and make disciples of all nations.”

You are the light of the world,

Richard +

www.reflectingthesavior.org.

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