July 11, 2016 – John 17:1-2

After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said,“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him.” John 17:1-2Jesus prayed, looking up into heaven.  He addressed God as his Father and He acknowledge the time.  “The hour has come!”  How often we have thought the same thing – it is now or never kind of feeling when  we know a chain of events will change the course of our lives.  Yet, it only changes our lives.  For Jesus it changed the history and destination of all the people of the world.Do we pray that our lives glorify God, as Jesus prayed?  Jesus knew the awesome responsibility his actions would have for the people and those to come.  Jesus knew he was gifted with authority for all God’s people.  Jesus gives eternal life to those whom God has given him.We live only to glorify God with the choices we make in the words we say, the thoughts we think and the actions we allow ourselves to make.  Do we, like, King David, arise each morning with this prayer on our heart? Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.  Psalm 19:14.  (O, Lord, let it be so!)What is eternal life?  It is to know the one and only true God AND Jesus Christ, whom He sent to the earth.  Eternal Life is to live wholly and eternally in His Presence.  Reading Lamentations, Chapter 5, gives a graphic picture of this world without the presence of God.  God has given us gifts, Jesus has given each of us new life. And I ask myself, will I complete the work God has given me to do on earth?  It is a choice, made moment by moment, each day!And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. John 17:3-4