"All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them."
- John 17 : 10
This is our scripture for the week.
In this passage, Jesus is praying to the Father in His last few moments left here on earth. The emphasis of this powerful prayer was for His present disciples at the time and His disciples to come.
In this portion of scripture, Jesus clearly states one the most important truths of a Christian's life : We are His, even as brother Paul states in 1 Corinthians 6 : 20 that we have been "bought with a price". The Price is Jesus' precious blood shed on the cross of calvary for our sins.
That's the first part. The second part is an important fact many Christians choose to ignore or are not aware of : our number one purpose is to glorify Jesus.
Many Christians hold on to the first truth but cast away or have just no had the revelation of the second one.
Yes we are His, and since we are His, it is inevitable for our lives to glorify Jesus, since He is in us as He is in the Father, who has given Him all things.
The second truth is therefore the direct consequence of the first one.
It does not make sense to say we are of Jesus and born again, yet, our lives reflect, little to nothing of Christ.
This should be our goals, aspirations, to glorify God through every single aspect of our lives. Not just half of our lives or two thirds of it, but all of our lives. Remember, Jesus did not say, "Some glory has come to be through them", instead He said, "ALL glory has come to me through them".
If truly, Jesus is in us and we are His, then it is imperative for us to bring Him glory in every area of our lives...And this, should come naturally to the one who has truly given themselves to Jesus and believe that He is from the Father, who has given Him all things.
Firstly, for Jesus to be in us, we cannot be of the world. "I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me" (John 14 : 30) and "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (1 John 4 : 4) and also "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16 : 33).
Secondly, if we are not of this world and Jesus is in us, then we have to glorify His name in every area of our lives and show case Him because " “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5 : 13 - 16)
Now, why are so many of us still failing to glorify Jesus in every area of our lives, why is it that Jesus' glory is not being revealed in our lives?
This is due to not submitting all our lives and everything we are about to Christ.
Many Christians say they are of Christ, yet they subscribe to the practices of the world and walk according to it's ways...this is partially giving your life to God...Jesus cannot be glorified in such a life.
We need to be completely in Christ for Him to be completely glorified in our lives.
Remember, Jesus was praying for the ones that are His, that are in Him and not for those in the world " I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours." (John 17 : 9).
We cannot have one leg into our walk with Christ and another leg inside the world...such a behavior is not acceptable to God "So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." (Revelations 3 : 16). Unfortunately, this is where a number of Christians find themselves today "in between".
You cannot call yourself a disciple of Christ and fail to be in Him, of Him and about Him. It doesn't make sense. ("By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles" Matthew 7 : 16).
At the end of the day, Jesus knows those that are truly His and it is for those He will and does intercede for before His Father.
If you want to run after the world, then go ahead but if you want to run for Christ, then do it with everything in you and let Jesus be glorified in every area of your life; from the little things like the way you dress and talk, your hobbies, school, to bigger things like your marriage and your carrier.
As His disciples, His children, His brothers and sisters, we are to bring glory to His name (For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother" Matthew 12 : 50).
Child of God remember, "Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them." John 14 : 21
May God give us the grace to live to the glory of HIS name!
Amen.
♥♥