the great omission part 2 - just an idea

JUST AN IDEA

In them and you in me. Then they’ll be mature in this oneness, And
give the godless world evidence That you’ve sent me and loved them
In the same way you’ve loved me. John 17:23 (MSG)

CHURCH, SMUG, RIGHTEOUS, EVEN DISTANT, superior perhaps, but
humble for sure! We church people, especially we church leaders,
are proud of our differences, our uniqueness. Jesus, however, suggested
it is our sameness that is a sign of our maturity. We like to
point out how special and different we are. Jesus suggested
“Oneness” would be a better advertisement to a hurting world than
competition.

I DON’T KNOW. IT’S JUST AN IDEA. BUT THEN IT WAS JESUS’ IDEA.
No, it was more than an idea . . . it was a prayer, a really serious
prayer. It was Jesus’ prayer for those who would be called his followers.
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for
all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony.”
John 17:20 (NLT)

IT’S A PRAYER THAT JESUS PRAYED FOR YOU AND I, even you and I
who are church leaders. We are “those also who believe in Me
through their (the first disciple’s) word.” It’s more than just a prayer,
it’s part of Jesus’ longest recorded prayer. It’s Jesus’ climactic prayer
before he goes to the cross to die for the sins of the world. It’s Jesus’
last open dialogue with his heavenly Father before he is betrayed,
and he is praying for you and me. . . the future church, the church
today.

JESUS’ PRAYER FOR THE FUTURE CHURCH IS that we (the church)
would live life in a way that sent a message, a message not just
about us (the church) but about him. . . the Lord of all .. . the only
Savior, or in Jesus’ own words ” the Way, the Truth and the Life.”

Think about it.

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