Everything I Have

Scripture: John 17:6-8 (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)

6 “I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, 8 for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me. (John 17:6-8 NLT)

Jesus’ Prayer: Father, I chose these guys as disciples, but you gave them to me. One thing they’ve learned, and this is crucial, is that everything I have is a gift from you. I’ve repeatedly told them that everything I have said and everything I’ve done is only what I’ve heard from you and seen you doing.

Now each of them will have to learn that everything they have is a gift from us. They’re self-focused, and self-willed, and so often just plain selfish! They spend so much energy on “yours” and “mine” and far too little on “ours”! We’ve seen some remarkable transformations on this “yours” and “mine” attitude when people really get it. I’m thinking of Zacchaeus, that little tax-collector in Jericho who “got it” and immediately started giving back what he had stolen and sharing what he had with others. There’s hope for them!

I’ve told them about the Vine and branches. That’s a good one! Thanks for that. We’ve still got a lot to teach them about community, but when the Holy Spirit comes, they’ll learn quickly to share what they have and to depend on each other. That young Pharisee we’ve had our eye on, Saul, can capture some of this in writing later and use metaphors like “Christ’s Body” and “God’s Family” to keep them learning and growing.  It’ll be kind of “rocky” for Peter at first, but he’ll be solid as a rock one day!

What they have is The Message. They believe it, they know that it and I came from you, and they believe you sent me. 16 “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. 17 God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. (John 3:16-17 MSG)

Prayer:

Father, Everything I have has come from you through Jesus. Help me get straight about the “yours” and “mine” and “ours” thing. And about my part in the plan. Amen!