Friday, June 14, 2013

John 17:11,18,21-23
¹¹ I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.  ¹⁸ As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— ²³ I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved 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.”

Reflection

Today our piece of John 17 talks about the two types of

relationships we have in our lives. Our relationship with God in the Trinity and our human relationships. What do you think our scripture today tells us about the overflow of the fellowship of hearts in the Trinity into our human

relationships?

Thursday, June 13, 2013

John 17:11-12,21,24,26

¹¹ I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. ¹² While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²⁴ “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 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.”

 Reflection

Reread the verses.  Reflect as you read what it means to be “in God,” “in Christ,” and “in us (the trinity).”

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

John 17:6, 11-12

⁶ “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.  ¹¹ I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. ¹² While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

 Reflection

In Scripture, a name reveals the true nature or identity of a person. In verse 11,  Jesus prays that we be united through the powerful name of God. Think about the names you know for God (Father, Creator, etc.) What do these names say about the nature of God? And how could that nature unite us?

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

John 17:3

³ Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

Reflection

Today we hear a wonderful relational definition of eternal life. Jesus says that by knowing the one true God we have eternal life. This week we are reminded that we need a connection with God. Our faith is relational. How is your relationship with God? Have you talked lately?

Monday, June 10, 2013

John 17:2,6,9,24
² For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ⁶ “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.  ⁹ I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. ²⁴ “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

Today we hear that Jesus views us as a gift from the Father. Have you ever thought about being a gift from God? How can this view change how you think about yourself? How can this change your thoughts about other people keeping in mind that people you are upset at are also a gift from God?

June 2 through June 8 Weekly Theme

LOVE

 “You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.”

 —John 15:16 (The Message)

             

In our relationships we seek those high points. I’ll give you an example. How much do we spend on weddings? We can even spend the new couple into debt even before they get started so that they can have that “perfect day” with the “perfect” moment. But we all know that love was born long before that moment in the wedding and will continue for years afterward. Yet taking our cues from the movies, we accentuate the “big moments” of life. What sits with us are the little moments in life’s ups and downs and growing in love and intimacy both in our relationships with our spouses, friends, and family, as well as with our God. Our faith is not just a onetime thing nor can it be expressed by a simple montage, but it is in a life with God growing in a love and intimacy that is larger than anything imaginable. Because we have often said or heard, “do we need to be in relationship with God? I can accept Jesus on my death bed and be just fine.” We think we can just wait but if we do that we miss out on so much more. Just like we do by only looking at our life as a montage. We miss so of much of a life transformed by God’s love if we wait to say yes and grow in intimacy with our God.

We talk a lot in the church about God’s love. And today is no different as we talk about how God’s love helps us to stand strong. The truth is that like the movie our love story is not all about the high points. Our love with God is not  one snippet or based only on our mountain top experiences, it is based on our relationship with God. 

Saturday, June 8, 2013

1 John 4:19-5-5

¹⁹ We love because he first loved us. ²⁰ Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. ²¹ And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. ¹ Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. ² This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. ³ In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, ⁴ for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ⁵ Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Reflection

Read through the selection and mark all the references you find regarding the mutual, reciprocal, and deep connection that you can experience with God (the Trinity). Then, in

another color or different symbol, mark all the results and

implications of this deep, reciprocal connection.

What did you find and how does that apply to your life?