STMA: Quiet Time

Genesis 29-32 §

Reading Genesis forces you to understand humanity’s sin nature. Jacob coerces his brother Esau to gain the birthright. Rebekah deceives her husband to steal Esau’s blessing for Jacob. Laban deceives Jacob and withholds Rachel from him. And this is all just within the family.

I am so blessed to have the family that I do, even with all our struggles.

John 17 §

“I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do."
John 17:4

How powerful, to be able to say that you accomplished [all] of what God gave you to do (Ephesians 2:10)!

“For their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth."
John 17:19

Following Christ’s example, we set ourselves aside for the holy work of bringing salvation to others.

“The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one."
John 17:22

We have the glory of the Father, the glory of Christ. There is no greater glory; there is no other (true) glory.

I think this may be one facet of what overcomes our selfish desires for adulation and accomplishment. Christ says He gives us this glory that we may be one. When we all have the greatest glory, what can possibly be gained from tearing one another down? We are not in competition. Christianity and discipleship are a team effort &emdash; even that phrasing seems to imply multiple teams, but there aren’t. There is just one team. And we are on it.

“Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world."
John 17:24 (emphasis added)

This is so simple and I will never not (re?) blog it: Christ’s relationship with the Father exists before the world is founded. Before creation is created. Christ is not a created being (John 1:3). Christ is God.