OUR LORD'S PRAYER

Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.  (John 17:11 NKJV)

 

This marvelous seventeenth chapter of John's gospel has been called the incense altar of the New Testament. It is full of the sweet fragrance of our Lords intercession for His own. Let's linger over it for a little while so that its wondrous depths may unfold before our eyes. It is a window into His inner consciousness, from which we may read some of the thoughts that habitually filled His soul.

Christ's self-obliteration. The motives that animated our Lord's earthly ministry were all for the Father's glory. He anticipated, in fact, those great words of the Apostle: "Of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever" (Romans 11:36). In this we have an example, that we should follow His steps. We also must find our fresh springs in Him, as He found them in God; we also must be willing to forsake and surrender all things to Him, holding them as His stewards; we also must appropriate, moment by moment, His unsearchable wealth; If any glory should ever fall to our lot, we must lay it at His feet, and share it with those entrusted to our charge.

Christ's self-assertion. Even though our Lord obliterated His own interests, there were many things which were inalienable and of which He could not dispossess Himself. He knew that He had ever been One with God, and ever would be, that the love which had existed between the Father and Himself was to be shared by a multitude that no one could number. It is ours to know that we are loved with an unchanging love, that in Christ we are enriched into the measure of God's unchangeable fullness. Why don't we more deeply share the self-obliteration of Christ for others that we may stand with Him on these glorious heights, beyond the reach of doubt and fear?

Christ's self-realization. Listen to His joyous words: "I am glorified in them." "I in them, You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one." It is only as He sees His joy glowing in thousand's of redeemed souls, and finds His love reproduced in their lives, that He is fulfilled and satisfied.

PRAYER

We thank You, our heavenly Father, for the gift of Jesus our Lord, Savior, and Friend. Draw us into closer union with Him, that we may know You better through Him, and be conformed to Your image. In His name I pray it, AMEN.

God's Daily Promise

Promise #298:
My great peace will guard your heart and thoughts in Jesus.

Philippians 4:7 (WEB)
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.