JOHN 17:24–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.”
THEME OF THE DAY:A GREAT DESIRE AND GREAT PRAYER. Stop. Go back to the verse of the day. Be lost in holy amazement of what is being revealed from the heart of our Lord Jesus in His prayer. Don’t rush from this holy place. Linger, ponder, and realize the unfathomable love of the Lord Jesus coming forth. This is truth that transforms, truth that overwhelms, and truth that is staggering to the mind and heart of mere mortals; the Creator in the form of the Godman has the deepest desire for the presence of those His Father has given Him in the Covenant of Redemption!
This desire and prayer of the Lord Jesus is to be ever-increasing the desire and prayer for His people. The whole of the Christian life is found in this one desire from the Lord; to be in His Presence to enjoy Him fully, to worship Him perfectly, and love Him without the battle of our remaining sin. In fact, when we come to the end of our Bibles, in the Revelation, we find the emphasis from God is this fellowship, this eternal companionship with His redeemed children. And it is a fellowship freeing us from this miserable world. The Apostle John would write: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true” (Revelation 21:1-5).
What should be the impact of our Lord’s prayer when we are illuminated to see its glory, majesty and beauty? At least two things. For healthy Christians, humility blossoms to think such a God would want us to be with Him and when humility blossoms, so does fellowship with the Lord and spiritual growth in Him. But there are other applications. Such love restores backslidden Christians, melts cold hearts, prevents the sin of worldliness, and intensifies the believer’s desire to have Jesus’ desire-to be in His Holy Presence.
Yes, our Lord’s words are a great desire and great prayer. May His desire and prayer become ours with increasing intensity.
PRAYER: “Father, intensify my desire to be in the Presence of my glorious Lord, to be forever satisfied with Your Glory.”
QUOTE: “The only way to overcome worldliness and a lukewarm heart is to be consumed with seeing Jesus in the next world.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim