Devotion #17

CENTRAL TRUTH: Christ works through each individual member of His body to accomplish His unique vision for New Covenant Bible Church.

BIBLE PASSAGE: John 17:20-21

Have you ever driven west from here toward the Rockies? One of my favorite moments is when the first mountain peaks become visible. Sometimes the peaks look like clouds until you get a little closer and can make out snowcaps poking into the sky. After that moment, you can always tell where you are and which way you are heading just by looking at them.

John 17 is like one of those ranges in the Rockies. It is one of the Lord’s great prayers. As He prays for His disciples and for His church, we can see who we are in Christ and which way He is leading us. In this prayer, we are declared to be one spiritual family—His church. We are to live in a fallen world and yet not belong to it, set apart so that others may believe in Him. And if you like to practice keeping an eye out for repeated words, you’ll see love in this chapter a few times.

One of the big peaks of John 17 is today’s passage, where we find Christ praying for each of us 2,000 years ago. He prayed that we would be one so “that the world may believe” (John 17:21 NIV). As we follow the Lord’s leading, as individuals and as one church body together, His prayer for us is fulfilled.

If you have not done so yet, please open your Journey Guide to the corresponding devotion in the Reading Journal section. Journal your thoughts in response to the questions found there, spend some time in prayer, and take a couple of minutes to review this week's Memory Verse.

-----

Today's Author

John Herder

My name is John Herder. My wife Sandi and I have been married for 22 years. Our three daughters—Irene, Johanna and Susanna—have grown up at New Covenant (from “baby angels” at Christmas to senior high). We have all grown spiritually through serving at New Covenant in various ways.

Although my vocation is engineering, I discovered while serving at New Covenant that I love teaching. That includes the learning side as well as the chance to pass along good things that I have been shown. And as Sandi might gently confirm, not all those good things sink into my head on the first try.

Comments

[Robin Koskamp]

Hey John, Just remember that you are not alone. How many of us "learn" the first time upon hearing something? I once heard that learning means "changed behavior." I think we will all be learning forever.
I appreciate your devotion. Dan and I love the Rockies and one of our favorite parts of the trip is always when we first see those mountains! I have a feeling that the next time we travel to Colorado that we will be thinking of you and John 17! It's cool that todays passage was from John 17 because I was reading this chapter several days ago and I was so touched at how Jesus prayed for the people, and knowing that He sits at the right hand of God my Father praying those same things for me, I decided to memorize it and to write it in my own words. As I read your devo this morning God reminded me that I had better get started.

[Tye Male]

Great devo John! I hope to see those Rockies some day before I get too old! I've seen pictures but I doubt they can compare with the real deal!

This passage wasn't as easy for me to digest as some of the others. Your devo helped me.

Jesus says "...as we are one" and when he does he is referring to the Trinity. God the father, God the son, and God the Holy Spirit are three, yet one. When it comes to believers we are many, yet one. When I think of "one" I think of unity in purpose and mission.

I am so thankful that NCBC is mission driven - God's mission of making disciples.

[Lyndee Crow]

I was impressed by the idea that we can be as close to the Father as Jesus is. What an awesome idea. To be that close as ONE with the Father. That would be my prayer.

[Erin Bird]

I was encouraged by verse 20 "I am not praying only on their behalf, but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their testimony." (NET) That's us! We believe through the testimony of Jesus disciples:
- Peter who wrote 1 and 2 Peter and helped Mark with his gospel.
- Matthew and John gave us their gospel accounts (while John tacked on Revelation to his bibliography).
- And of course Paul, one who was "untimely born" as a disciple (1 Cor. 15:8) gave us his rich epistles.

So often when Jesus says "them" or "my disciples" I think of the twelve, or maybe the 72, or sometimes even the masses that gathered to listen to him and experience his miracles. But we, too, are disciples, and so in this passage we are part of "them". And this means we can be one with one another in our local church, the global Church, and with Christ and His Heavenly Father!

[Richard Kramer]

If only, if only…
If only I could trust that salesman who tries so hard to sell me that fabulous used car or that new mortgage or that latest wireless gadget.
If only I could trust that persuasive idealist who entices me to join his cause concerning global warming, fund-raising concerts for the downtrodden, or his political party.
If only I could trust that promoter who offers me such a great business deal…
If only I could see deeply into their souls and discover their true motives I could then decide with greater confidence how to respond.
In this prayer we have a wonderful glimpse into the heart of Jesus. He bares His soul completely and reveals His true motive for being with us. For me it means:
-complete unity in essence, verse 21,
-complete unity in purpose, verse 23,
-complete unity in love, verses 23, 26.
For anyone searching, this is an important passage revealing who Jesus really is—what He wants FOR us, not just FROM us.

[Tye Male]

Wow Richard! your post is incredible. I really appreciate your wisdom and insight.

[Martha Troxel]

When I read these two verses I was encouraged that the unity Jesus prayed for will happen because He is able to make it happen.It is also encouraging that unity doesn't mean all being the same any more than each part of a human body is the same.