Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

Logos

Sunday, May 4, 2008

John 17:1-5
Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said,

"Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that your son may give eternal life to all you gave him.

"Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.

I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began.

Here is God talking to himself, son talking to Papa, all in the family. They are excited to announce the inclusion of "all people" in their eternal family.

Philosophers and theologians are never satisfied with their epistemology. What is knowledge? How is knowledge acquired? What do people know? No wonder we have trouble settling on an answer in our temporary state of earthbound life. We see so little of what there is to see.

Jesus doesn't draw pictures of heaven to describe eternal life. He calls it knowledge, pure and simple: knowing God. Holding onto this idea is like hanging for dear life on the tail feathers of a falcon, swooping in and out of valleys, up into the clouds, over the seas and then gliding graceful onto rock. Warm nest made for night, shelter in the storm. Don't let go. It gets better and better.

I know Jesus now. Just a little. Jesus knows me better than I know myself, watching each hair on my head. I can wait, having been promised, for times to come when I will know God like that. Paul writes so beautifully about these days and those ... "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known" (1 Corinthians 13).

At another moment with his disciples Jesus comforted them, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for the Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12). And now in his death and resurrection Jesus and his father are pleased to give it to us all.

Jesus claims us for his own. His words echo the plaintive cry of Isaiah in the drought: "Come, you who are thirsty, come to the waters, and you who have no money, come buy and eat. Receive wine and milk without cost. Listen to me and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare."

All that is good comes from you, Lord, and nothing evil. Give us this day the daily bread of your kingdom. Carry us home.

Devotions Archive

Logos

Sunday, May 4, 2008