Audacious -- Week 8
Wednesday: (July 24th)
Read: John 17: 13-26
Reflect: This is a PACKED passage of scripture, and it’s all in red-letter print. The words we read today are Jesus’ words. He was speaking them to His Father as a prayer for His disciples and those who would come to know Him because of the disciples. Ladies, that’s you and me.
I don’t want to move on too quickly. Sit and rest in that just a minute. If that doesn’t cause you to stop and think, or cry, or sit in complete shock and awe, maybe you should read again. Grab the Message version to get a clearer picture. In His sovereignty, Jesus Christ prayed for us during His earthly life on earth. That’s huge!
Even bigger, though, is what He chose to pray. He could have prayed anything, right? But, he prayed specifically that we’d know His relationship to the Father so that we’d understand our relationship. God and Jesus are one. In Christ, we are made one in that union too.
I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love Me. (John 17:23)
It’s amazing, and it’s unreal. It’s nearly impossible to believe. God loves us even as He loved Christ. The relationship we have with God was initiated by God, made possible by Christ’s coming, and intended to bring glory for the world to see.
Respond: Honestly, I don’t know how to pose a question for response today. This is a passage of scripture that has always been difficult for me to understand. In light of the message of our Audacious chapter this week, though, I’m doubly overwhelmed. How do I keep missing the truth of who I am in Christ and what He has planned for me?
What about you? Does it change your “want to” when you know and understand that you get to be ONE with God and Jesus? Would we have to sit around and make lists of all the things we NEED to do each day if we really understood that God considers us unified with Him and Jesus…. In relationship?
Renew: So, what conversation do you need to have with your Heavenly Father this morning? What conversation do I need to have? This is Holy ground, ladies. When we take time to pause and seek relational understanding with our God and Father, I believe He is so very pleased. Let’s do that today. I don’t want to intrude into what He has planned for you. So, read through the scripture again if needed. Write out a sincere prayer in your journal if that is helpful. Sit in silent gratitude for the price Jesus paid to unify us into the relationship with His Father if you can’t do anything else. We NEED to spend time receiving this truth, because it will transform how we WANT to live.
Father God, With my whole heart, I believe life change hinges on our wants rather than our needs. You have created us out of desire and given us desire as a motivator. Self control is a fruit of the spirit, and discipline can and should guide our lives. However, what Beth Moore has taught us this week is that we will follow You and submit to Your ways much faster if we simply WANT to. And, how could we not want to when we see the kind of relationship You intended for us in Jesus’ prayer from John 17. I’m convinced that we could never really understand the implications of Your relational design unless You open our minds to really get it. So, would you do that today? Help us to see, to know, to understand, and to really grasp Your great love and goodwill towards us who believe. Thank you and Amen.
