Liz’s Morning Devotional based upon Upper Room
March 12, 2022
Read John 17:17-26
17 Make them holy in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 I made myself holy on their behalf so that they also would be made holy in the truth. 20 “I’m not praying only for them but also for those who believe in me because of their word. 21 I pray they will be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. I pray that they also will be in us so that the world will believe that you sent me. 22 I’ve given them the glory that you gave me so that they can be one just as we are one. 23 I’m in them and you are in me so that they will be made perfectly one. Then the world will know that you sent me and that you have loved them just as you loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you gave me to be with me where I am. Then they can see my glory, which you gave me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, even the world didn’t know you, but I’ve known you, and these believers know that you sent me. 26 I’ve made your name known to them and will continue to make it known so that your love for me will be in them, and I myself will be in them.”
Good Morning! Through Jesus, God’s love is within us!
You must embrace the craziness of the weather in March, or it will make you crazy. As I type this morning, the rain is pouring down. Earlier this week it was 81 degrees, but now the wind is picking up and our rain is forecast to change to sleet in the next hour, and then to snow. It seems that as our weather patterns transition to a new season there is resistance. Spring is ready to take over now, but winter isn’t ready to let go, so the battle continues.
This description could be easily applied to us, as both the body of Christ and members of our earthly society. We are called to gather all into the fellowship of believers. The transition from living with an earthly focus to living with a heavenly focus rooted in love and mercy attracts heavy resistance on many fronts. Some will refuse to give up their earthly possessions. Many will join for a while, but as we journey forward together, some will be distracted and fall back into their earthly ways. Just as Jesus taught us, we must look for the one who is lost. Only when the lost one is found, can we rejoice and move forward.
The biggest obstacle to our transition to a world rooted in love and mercy is the unity of which we read in this passage of John. Unity is only possible through Christ. Earthly attempts to unify together are unable to last. As we observe the battles taking place between Ukraine and Russia, we see that even agreed-upon cease fires quickly dissolve into a new round of fighting.
People are not capable of creating a body unified together without Christ. Even those with the best intentions and the fully developed plans struggle to find one accord. The only way unity among all people can be achieved is for all to accept that Christ loves us and died for us so that we might be saved. 21 I pray they will be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. I pray that they also will be in us so that the world will believe that you sent me. We must continue to gather new believers, so that all may be saved.
Loving God, Thank You for loving us. Our world is struggling! There are so many of Your children in danger. Through you, help us fight the evil that has such a stronghold among the powerful. Thank you for always loving us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: God desires for me to walk in unity with other Christians.
Rejoice in the One! Pastor Liz
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