The Promise of Jesus to His Father

S - John 17:20-26 (NLT): ""I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father--that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me. "I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are-- I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one. Then the world will know that you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you've given me to be with me, so they can see my glory. You gave me the glory because you loved me even before the world began! "O righteous Father, the world doesn't know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. And I have revealed you to them and will keep on revealing you. I will do this so that your love for me may be in them and I in them.""

O - Jesus has promised the Father, the first disciples and all disciples who come after them to keep on revealing the Father to them so that the Father's love may be in them and that Jesus (who is Life) would be in them. How does Jesus do this?  How does he keep on revealing the Father?  He does it the way he did it with the very first  followers … Jesus reveals the Father by being Jesus! When we see him we see the Father.  When we hear him we hear the Father.  When he comes into our lives the Father comes with him.  Since Jesus has made this promise the question for me is: Am I welcoming and receiving more revelations from the Lord?  Is Jesus still "jesusing" in my life and through my life?

A - Jesus does not reveal the Father by information alone … but by presence, spirit, experiences of all sorts, by trials undeserved and blessings beyond belief. Jesus calls me to the life and love which is God AND he does not call me alone - he calls the entire human race to join him and me.  All are wanted and yet not all come.  Of those who come not all stay.  Of those who stay Jesus has one desire: "that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father--that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me." I want and need Jesus to continue to go "jesusing" in and through my life unto his life and love in me, the Father in me and me engaged with all who are his in the only desired outcome/reality "They are One".

P - Dearest and Fairest and Only Lord, Jesus!

I admit you.  The truth, life, love, light, word of you.  I ask, beg, welcome, confess my need and express my desire for you to keep on revealing the Father to me.  Lord, I admit me.  Little and weak on my best day; seeing through a dark glass dimly on my best day; and a life which has few best days.  I admit my capacity for doubt and unbelief is only superseded by my capacity to completely miss the point … and above all else and through all you are the point.  So, in this day I turn to you the face, throw open my heart and commit entirely to you and your will on earth like it happens in heaven … unto the "in them" not just an "amen."

Steve