|
"God's Good Opinion of You"
There is a reoccurring problem that keeps showing up in the lives of many believers of Jesus Christ that I would like to address this week in my devotional. It is the lack of fully knowing just how God feels about you and me. So many folks that I meet today that are born again just fail to see themselves properly as God sees them. They often have some distorted view that was painted inappropriately within their heart and mind through some person who they actually looked up to. It could have been through a mother, a father, a classmate, a teacher, a minister, or a combination of several significant people in their life. No matter who was the culprit in this handiwork of the devil its damage is telling as I see their pain and the lack of zeal for doing anything with their life. Therefore, in today's devotional I want us to look at something that I hope can and will replace these wrong ideas and thoughts that you may be propping up. Look with me at a prayer that Jesus was heard praying to His Father.
John 17:20-24 (NLT)
20 "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.
21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one-as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
22 "I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one.
23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.
24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!
I want to begin here with this passage of Scripture as we tear down some wrong views and establish the right kind of thinking. I especially like this verse 20 as it includes all of us specifically and personally. It goes beyond the historical record of the present day disciples of that time and brings it all the way to you and me in our day. That is important to see here, as we must learn to extract from God's Word that His Bible is not just records from olden times that have no relevance for our day. But on the contrary, they are very much as real for us as it was for those earlier disciples. Then Jesus goes on within His prayer in verse 21 by speaking an exact alignment between His disciples and Himself and the Father. In other words, Jesus was declaring that His disciples would be one with Himself, as the Father and He were one together. God the Father and Jesus were so completely meshed together in their relationship that they acted the same, walked the same, spoke the same, and there was no mistaking that they were related even though they were two different persons. Therefore, Jesus is praying this intimate and longing desire from His inner being that we His disciples would understand who we are in our new and divine nature. When God had made man, He made them, male and female in the likeness and image of Himself. He wrapped this unique and special creation of His called man with His very own brilliant light and glory.
 |
|
It's a New Year
I believe that a new year always brings opportunities for us to reach higher goals and make each year better and more productive than the previous years. Let's take a time out and begin to ask God about this year. What are your goals, dreams and your deepest desires? I feel as believers we are living in exciting times now more than ever where people need to know the reason for the hope that lives within us.
1 Peter 1: 3-5
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Do you need encouragement? Peter's words offer joy and hope in times of trouble, and he bases his confidence on what God has done for us in Christ Jesus. We're called into a living hope of eternal life (1Pe 1:3). Our hope is not only for the future; eternal life begins when we trust Christ and join God's family. No matter what pain or trial we face in this life, we know that it is not our final experience. Eventually we will live with Christ forever.
I loved the reference to the word living hope; it means that our hope is for today, tomorrow and for eternity. If we are alive today we have hope, we have a message that can change the world. I hear the word change from deep within my spirit. I believe that we are changing and becoming more like Christ and with this change it will affect those that are around us. We have the ability to walk in health, prosperity, joy, peace and without fear because Christ in us has given us the power and authority to overcome anything that we may be facing today.
I challenge myself and you to face this year with expectation for a great year in 2009. A year of opportunity, blessing, and a knowing that with Christ all things are possible!
On your mark! Get set! GO!
|
