Life that Glorifies Christ

“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.  I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them” (John 17: 6-10).

Jesus came to the world to manifest, illuminate, highlight, and reveal the name of God. The whole character of God is contained in His name. Throughout the scriptures, the written word of God, the Holy Spirit declares the various names and characteristics of God. Throughout His brief time on earth the Son, the Living Word of God, declared the same… “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory… No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known” (John 1:14, 18). But not everyone got it. Only “the people whom you gave me out of the world” got the revelation Jesus manifested. The rest of the world rejected the name and character of God. Jesus did not even include the rejecting world in His prayer. Instead He prayed for a special group He called disciples and friends… “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15). These had taken a step of faith away from the crowds of followers and embraced the truth Jesus taught and revealed through His ministry on earth. He was commissioning them now to carry on His ministry after His departure, and He began this commissioning prayer by identifying them to His Father and asking Him to empower them to live a life that glorifies Christ.

What are you facing today? What’s on your agenda? At the end of the day, what will make you feel really good about today? Are you excited about the potential or frightened by the unknown of this day? Are you hopeful about the promise or anxious about the worries of the day? If your expectations are based on your own plans for this day, you may be greatly disappointed by the day’s end. But if your goal is to glorify Christ, then no matter what comes your way, it can be a great day! Today we see that Jesus prayed for disciples that live to glorify Him, so let’s see what we can learn and imitate from them.

They were chosen by God. They believed God made them with intentional purpose. They got up and got to work every day because they believed God had a special plan for each day, and these disciples did not want to miss a moment of the exciting life God called them to… “Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches” (1 Corinthians 7:17). They believed God’s call was bigger than anything in this life because it originated in the heart of God and was securely predestined by His perfect will… “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will” (Ephesians 1:11). Finally, these disciples and friends of Jesus were convinced there were lasting blessings for loving God and pursing the call He had placed on their lives… “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). They glorified Christ by fulfilling His call upon their lives.

They received and kept God’s word. Jesus often confronted followers with truth from God’s word. The Spirit teaches that God’s truth leads us to salvation… “Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” (James 1:18). The truth of God’s word gives us victory over sin and keeps us separated from the world… “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). Jesus’ disciples abided in His word… “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples” (John 8:31) and they knew how to study and share His word… “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). They glorified Christ by loving and sharing His truth.

As we grow up into Christ fulfilling His call and embracing His truth we will better live and reflect a…

Life that Glorifies Christ