Love in the Face of Darkness
/Scripture
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me….
I am in them and you are in me. 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. (John 17:20,21,23 NLT)
Love in the Face of Darkness
Even with the holiday months behind us and hopefully some regeneration from it all we face the normal challenges of life. The world is in conflict, under water some places and we face both sorrow and joy as life continues at a heightened pace. It can be overwhelming to find perspective in it all
It constantly amazes me how much the founder of our faith spoke about the mystery of love and relationship. Among the Father, Son and Spirit and among us as the human family. During his last moments before his arrest, trial and crucifixion his passion was to pray for his friends and for us as well.
He wants his love to be in us, the love the Father has for him to be ours and to cap it all off he prayed that we would know we are loved. And loved as deeply and intimately as he was by his Father.
It is a mystery. It isn’t precise but it is extravagant. It is beyond definition but deeply fulfilling as we are embraced by it. While we are separated by so many issues, ideas, ideologies and disputes, Jesus prays that we could experience love while still having our significant differences. The centre of our fellowship is love, not agreement about each and every idea.
A Prayer for Today
Loving Father, you must shake your head when we are so firmly committed to ideas that can change, while your love for us never changes. Deliver us from the pride that causes us not to listen to others, to you, even to our own deepest needs. Let Jesus’ prayer for us be answered in our experience together of being loved beyond measure….for Jesus’ sake