On Earth as it is in Heaven

S - “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” John 17:22-24 NASB

O - Jesus is speaking to his Father in the words recorded above.  The timing of their expression is near the end of this exchange and the beginning of his suffering.  His desires, the requests on his heart, can be summarized in single words he used.  Glory, One, Unity, Loved.  All of these are set in the context of relationships.  Relationships with the Father, with the followers and with the world. The result of these realities in the ongoing context of relationship on earth is a universal understanding that Jesus was sent by God in unconditional love; and all those who follow him are to live in unconditional love. The result in the Kingdom will be the "seeing" which follows the believing; no separation of any kind; unbroken togetherness.  Here and here after, the Kingdom of God is relationships!   

A - God's Kingdom is relationships.  Relationships are not the byproduct of his Kingdom, they are the Kingdom.  Regardless of one's theological moorings, surrender relationships and the kingdom is missed (cf. Matthew 25).  The glory of Jesus is not found in the miracles he did but in the intimacy of his relationship with his Father.  Earth wants the focus to be on informational accuracy or miraculous occurrences.  Heaven's focus is relational integrity … One, Unity, Loved, Glory!   “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."” John 13:34-35 NASB

P - Lord Jesus,

I accept the nature and substance of your Kingdom … and say yes to following you and relational integrity over all other factors. I want to live as an answer to your prayer rather than a cause of it.  I will love you back and love my neighbors (7.4 billion) … I will love as you love me unto life in your kingdom here and hereafter.

Steve