This Devotional series which is part of the Clayton Church Value-Based Discipleship series, which was launched on Sunday 23 July 2017.

Passage: John 17:13-26

I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world; I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory you have given me, that they may be one as we are one – 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.

Scripture

The words of Jesus clearly stand out as the key stand-out of this passage. Whilst this passage, as written above in the NIV translation is not the easiest reading, the recurring phrase of “I in them and you in me” really drives home the unity of Christ Jesus as the Son of God with God the Father. The love of Jesus for us – the world – and his desire for complete unity with God for us is truly amazing. Couple that union with the nature of God as love and this passage really speaks fountains of the loving nature of God and His desire to be one with us.

My Words

Retelling the story for someone else (you – my audience):

Now that you his my attention, Jesus is really making a critical point. He really wants us to understand the fullness of it and the completeness of knowledge it brings to the loving nature and joy that us from the Lord. For those who receive and accept Jesus’ teaching, the world will despise and persecute us for our faith. This world is temporal for us all, irrespective of whether we believe in Christ or not – we have one life which is fleeting and a drop in the ocean of eternity. Jesus’ heart and prayer is for His flock, that we would be protected from the evil influences that would have us distracted and tempted away from our eternal purpose. When we receive the truth, the saving knowledge that is the truth will set us apart for God and His divine glory. Jesus himself models the disciples calling in that He himself was sent by the Father, and likewise, He now sends us into the world to bring others close to the father that they may know Him and His love and truth.

Jesus prays not just for those who have become believers, but all who would in time become believers. If our hearts are open to His message of love, truth and grace, that prayer of protection extends to those who openly receive and know it. In this way, the Kingdom of God and community of faith becomes one body under Christ’s Lordship and communion with the Father. This community of faith in itself, loving one another, will demonstrate to the outside world that God is indeed here amongst us – working and building up the believers in love – and it all started with God first loving us.

What I Discovered

Initially, reading this passage can be a head scratcher. The phrasing can be confusing, but ultimately, through the activity of rewriting the passage in my own words, line my line, the true meaning is decipherable.

I love the fact that this passage is a complete reinforcement of God’s nature of love, and the intensity of God working through His people as we obey his command to love one another – it all bears witness to God and gives Him the glory. A number of revelations impact us as disciples and followers of Jesus – firstly, God will protect us. This is reassuring for us when we go out and bear witness to the world according to His will and purpose – God goes with us and will ensure He protects us. Secondly, when we believe and become part of the Kingdom of God here on earth, we are united not just with the wider body of believers, but with God too – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Obedience Step “I Will”

I will celebrate the union we have in Christ with my life group, knowing that God is with us and protecting us.

Today’s devotion is summarised in the single design graphic above, which have been added to my Threadless Artist Shop under the collection Discipleship Devotionals.