S - John 17:1-5, 25-26 (NIV): "“Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. … “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” "
O - Jesus uses the noun Father six times in his 26 verse prayer which does not end with an "amen" but an "in them." He has made, and will continue to make, known his Father to those who believe in order that the Father's love for Jesus and Jesus himself would be in us. This is the Lord's desire to this very day. We need to welcome his activity to continue to make the Father known to us - not just an intellectual rehashing of what we already know but a fresh and vibrant experience in his awesome person. Without the direct touch of his spirit what we know, wonderful and true, does not work in us as it ought to. It is his person, face to face, which transforms … renewed minds are to be led to transforming touches of his person -- God's gift, the gospel, is a person! Jesus also used the noun "glory" six times. And verse four confirms that bringing God glory is all about completing the work he has for us to do; which is not the same as doing everything that could possibly be done. The touch of God's Spirit includes both release and restraint … and in this dynamic is the glory he seeks. Today, God is seeking glory in and through my life even as I am seeking his will, his touch and the presence of Jesus in me and through me. This is all a miracle, the kingdom, the only hope I have, we have, our world has and Jesus is fully prepared to love, shepherd and touch the world. The point of his prayer, and this should be the point of mine, is "in them" not just an "amen."
A - Today I need to and want to live out my believing in the way which moves toward an "in them" and not simply an "amen." Just like Jeremiah at the potter's house, I am the clay and his work in me will always involve showers of grace and shaping in his image. I welcome this even when I don't like it or cannot explain it. I admit my need of ongoing experiences in his presence and love so that the result of kingdom information would consistently be producing in me and through me kingdom transformation.
P - Lord who is the Glory of God,
I praise you for this day and for your awesome goodness and kindness which is mine because of grace. Thank you for having a will on earth which includes me. I want to fulfill your purpose, to complete the work you have given be to do. I admit that this work is not always clear to me and yet I do welcome your release and your restraint. I admit that the glory you seek in my life is not fulfilled in a frantic do everything which is possible but rather to do everything which completes my assignment. Lord, I know so little about my assignment. Please shepherd me. I accept and expect your shepherding unto your glory and the good of all.
"in them",
Steve
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