Making Room
READ
John 17:22-23
CONSIDER
Back to glory. Jesus has given the disciples the same high honor his Heavenly Father has given him. Let that sink in for a second. The same high honor God in human form, the Savior of the world, received from the Creator and Sustainer of the universe!
How? Having the same glory in you that Christ has in himself, which is given from God the Father, unifies you with Christ. It is that high honor which unifies us with Christ. We share this with him.
Why? Jesus prayer here is very straightforward. “May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.”
A Church filled with the glory of Jesus, given to him by God, is a unified Church.
REFLECT
There’s this popular illustration with pastors that involves two pitchers, a large rock, some river rocks, and sand. The sand represents all the small things we have to take care of on a daily basis. Tasks, chores, errands, etc. The river rock represents things that are bigger priorities, like time with family, caring for others, our jobs, and so on. The big rock is God.
We tend to start each day with the sand, then add the river rock, and give God the space that’s left. However, when we do that, God sits on top of it all and doesn’t fit in the pitcher. When we put God in first, then the river rock, then the sand, the smaller things fill in around God, He touches the sand and the river rock, AND it all fits with room to spare.
I like to add water to the illustration, using it to fill the space around the big rock, the stones, and each grain of sand. I keep pouring until it flows out of the pitcher. This is how we are filled with the glory of Christ. Put God first, then the next biggest priorities, then the little things. Yes, we will need to eliminate some stuff, but there are real considerations that need to be taken into account. When we put Jesus first, we protect room to be filled with his glory and for that glory to shine for the world around us to see...just like Jesus prays.
PRAY
Jesus, set my priorities and remove anything necessary so I can be filled with your glory, embracing my part in building a unified Church for the sake of your glory. Amen.