PGA Chaplain Bible Studies
Study 24 June 30th to July 6th 2008.
Reading – John Chapter Ch17: verses 24 to 26.
“Where is your passion?”
The prayer of Jesus for his followers.
Jesus prayed; “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them” John Chapter 17: verses 20 to 22. (New International Version).
We have just witnessed another exciting state of origin rugby league series where Queensland won the series 3 years in a row. Being a Queenslander this is good news. I am sure that NSW will have a victory sometime in the years ahead. What is amazing about state of origin is how passionate we are about our origins and belonging to a team. Our family is divided due to being born in different states, but we manage to get along in spite of coming from different planets.
This passage above is the end of a prayer that Jesus prayed for his followers just prior to his arrest and crucifixion. This prayer represents the heart of Jesus for his followers. Note the comments and sentiments of the prayer.
For Jesus his heart is that we will know God, love God and be one with God. The God that Jesus came to reveal is the same as he; and his desire is that all his followers will know the love that comes from the Father and from him. This triangle of relationship is made possible by the Holy Spirit making it a four way relationship. You may think this is bizarre. However Jesus makes it clear that the Holy Spirit will reveal to us the things Jesus the Son of God has said. Jesus has come to show us the Father, so this intimate relationship with God is possible. Don’t get too involved in trying to sort this out, just listen to Jesus and the rest will sort itself out.
This gift of knowing God through Jesus is to surpass any kind of passion we may have for a state or team.
There are many times in our life when this will be tested. The world in which we live draws us away from knowing God with its temptations and delights. It is not hard to love the good things in life more than God; we just need to follow our natural instincts and ignore God.
To be one with God, we need passion, commitment and desire on our part; otherwise God will always seem like a distant relative.
I would love to see this passion more in Christians that I meet. Too often God seems to be a back stop, a security blanket, like a spare tyre; to use when we are in trouble.
The greatest commandment of all is to love God with ALL our heart, soul mind and strength. To do anything less is to belittle God and to treat lightly Jesus who gave us his life that we might live. The journey can begin for us when we draw near to God and he will draw near to us.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me today to know you in a real way, with passion, commitment and desire. Thank you that Jesus makes it possible for my sins to be forgiven and to make a new start. Amen.
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