Sunday, June 8th 2008 Holy, yet empowering…
It’s humbling if you stop to think about it; Jesus in all of his glory, in the fullness of his deity, in the heavens that he left to become one us for a time being is actually praying for us. Even as you read this He is interceding on our behalf before the living God – God the Father. Unbelievable; his love and concern for us never stops.
Do you ever feel alone? Lonely as if no one is around who really cares about you? I feel this way occasionally, I think it’s only human. It’s hard to accept; Jesus’ love is so deep that he stands in the gap for us everyday. Even when we think we don’t need the help. Again, it’s a bit overwhelming if you think about it.
While this realization may be new to you it’s really just an extension of who Jesus was while he was here on earth. We see this in one of his prayers. A small part of this prayer is below. As Jesus was preparing to go back to God because his mission was about to end, he interceded on behalf of those he loved…
John 17:13-21 (New International Version)
“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 am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
While this prayer has many facets that are worthy of discussion, I want to focus on the part where he mentions that we are “not of the word” and yet “we are in the world.” Seems a little odd, but like Jesus was in the world we too are in the world. Yet, at the same time we are not to be part of the world.
What do think about when you read this? What comes to mind? How can we be in and not of the world around us? Is it an issue of separation (non-engagement) as some would have us believe? Is it that we set ourselves in a position of judgment and therefore condemn those who may not live like us? What does it mean?
Maybe it’s just me, but I think the idea of being “in and not of” has been misunderstood for the past few decades. To me it suggests that we live differently while on this earth so others can see the love of Jesus in our actions. It means that we live by a different set of standards that point to Christ as the one who cares about those who are hurting and suffering. It means that we engage the world by making the sound moral choices that affect real change, but “morality” actually goes much deeper than you may think (e.g., when you think of “immorality” what come to mind?).
Unlike the dominant conservative evangelical church has behaved for the past few decades, making sound moral choices transcends sexual issues and means that we can also choose:
• Generosity over greed (personal or corporate)…
• Moderation over indulgence (mine or yours)…
• Reestablishing our priorities for the sake of family (workaholics in the church or anywhere else)…
• A life that is more about serving others and less about serving self (it’s not about you)…
• Down-shifting over consumerism (living on less so more can be shared)…
• Caring for our planet by accepting an eco-friendly way of life…
• Engaging the issues of social justice rather than avoiding them (making things right instead of turning a blind eye on the poor, the orphaned, the hungry, homeless and thirsty)…
Talk about this stuff with your friends and start making the hard choices – choices that will let others know how much Jesus really cares about them.
Hey, I’m gone for a few weeks (with a team in Guatemala), so think on these things and let Jesus work on your heart. I’ll update the blog when I get back.
Remember, you not doing this alone; Jesus is praying for you right now and he will guide you around every corner.
Peace out…
PS – if this blog is useful to you please let me know via email – rgelaude@connexionscc.com
Do you ever feel alone? Lonely as if no one is around who really cares about you? I feel this way occasionally, I think it’s only human. It’s hard to accept; Jesus’ love is so deep that he stands in the gap for us everyday. Even when we think we don’t need the help. Again, it’s a bit overwhelming if you think about it.
While this realization may be new to you it’s really just an extension of who Jesus was while he was here on earth. We see this in one of his prayers. A small part of this prayer is below. As Jesus was preparing to go back to God because his mission was about to end, he interceded on behalf of those he loved…
John 17:13-21 (New International Version)
“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 am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
While this prayer has many facets that are worthy of discussion, I want to focus on the part where he mentions that we are “not of the word” and yet “we are in the world.” Seems a little odd, but like Jesus was in the world we too are in the world. Yet, at the same time we are not to be part of the world.
What do think about when you read this? What comes to mind? How can we be in and not of the world around us? Is it an issue of separation (non-engagement) as some would have us believe? Is it that we set ourselves in a position of judgment and therefore condemn those who may not live like us? What does it mean?
Maybe it’s just me, but I think the idea of being “in and not of” has been misunderstood for the past few decades. To me it suggests that we live differently while on this earth so others can see the love of Jesus in our actions. It means that we live by a different set of standards that point to Christ as the one who cares about those who are hurting and suffering. It means that we engage the world by making the sound moral choices that affect real change, but “morality” actually goes much deeper than you may think (e.g., when you think of “immorality” what come to mind?).
Unlike the dominant conservative evangelical church has behaved for the past few decades, making sound moral choices transcends sexual issues and means that we can also choose:
• Generosity over greed (personal or corporate)…
• Moderation over indulgence (mine or yours)…
• Reestablishing our priorities for the sake of family (workaholics in the church or anywhere else)…
• A life that is more about serving others and less about serving self (it’s not about you)…
• Down-shifting over consumerism (living on less so more can be shared)…
• Caring for our planet by accepting an eco-friendly way of life…
• Engaging the issues of social justice rather than avoiding them (making things right instead of turning a blind eye on the poor, the orphaned, the hungry, homeless and thirsty)…
Talk about this stuff with your friends and start making the hard choices – choices that will let others know how much Jesus really cares about them.
Hey, I’m gone for a few weeks (with a team in Guatemala), so think on these things and let Jesus work on your heart. I’ll update the blog when I get back.
Remember, you not doing this alone; Jesus is praying for you right now and he will guide you around every corner.
Peace out…
PS – if this blog is useful to you please let me know via email – rgelaude@connexionscc.com
posted by Ron Gelaude at
7:50 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home