In The Word
Read: John 17:1-5
The High Priestly Prayer
17 Jesus spoke these things; and raising His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, so that the Son may glorify You, 2 just as You gave Him authority over all mankind, so that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 I glorified You on the earth by accomplishing the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now You, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world existed.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Our Lord lifted up His eyes to heaven. Why would He look up? He looked up because our Father is up. When the voice of God spoke of His Son, where did it come from? It came from above in the sky. Many times when we pray, we close our eyes or bow our heads looking down. Although there is nothing wrong with doing this, we should also lift our heads and look up in the sky to our Father and King. Try going outside and looking up into the sky and speaking to our God. It is faith–building and encouraging.
Eternal life is defined in these scriptures, to know the Father and the Son! The word “know” in this passage of Scripture means to have an intimate relationship with, like the love between a husband and a wife. It is more than just knowledge of Him, but time with Him. Not everyone that calls on the Lord or serves Him doing the work of God will inherit eternal life. Those who do the will of the Father—which is to believe, surrender, and become intimately involved with God—will enter into eternal life (Matthew 7:15-23). Do you truly have a living, vibrant relationship with our Father, our King, and the Holy Spirit?
The way Our Father and King is glorified on the earth is by us accomplishing the work the Holy Spirit gives us to do. They are not expecting or asking us to do someone else’s work. They are asking us to do our own work. Be faithful and complete what He has set before you, and God will be glorified each time you do. Do we know the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit enough to lift up our eyes, to see, and to obey? My prayer is that you do.