Reflecting Glory

Reflecting Glory

John 17:9-12, NLT

My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. 10All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. 11Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. 12During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.

Setting the Scene

God loves the whole world, but here Jesus was focusing on his disciples. They belonged to both Jesus and the Father, and Jesus would be glorified in them after he had returned to the Father because their lives and words would reveal Jesus’ essential character to the world. He would be present through them. The disciples would have the responsibility of spreading the news about Jesus and his Kingdom. They would encounter terrible opposition, so Jesus asked the Father to unite and protect them. During the time that Jesus was physically present with the disciples, they had been unified around him, and Jesus had carefully protected these disciples as a precious gift given to him from the Father. Soon Jesus would leave these men, and he knew their faith would be severely tested; yet they would glorify him through their lives and their testimony.

Getting Personal

What assurances do you have that you “belong” to Christ?

How do you feel “guarded” and “protected” by Christ?

What can you do to bring glory to Christ?

The disciples “belonged” to God—they had been chosen and bought with a price (see 1 Corinthians 6:20). And Jesus was leaving these men in the world, entrusting them with the great responsibility of taking his message to all the nations. The life purpose for these early disciples and for all who follow Christ should be to bring him glory. We do this through how we live and what we say. Jesus had said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!” (John 14:9, NLT); that is, “If you want to know what God is like, look at me.” Here we find the next part of the equation: “If you want to know what Jesus is like, look at his followers.”

Talking to God

Pray that the Lord would allow others to see Christ in you through your attitudes, lifestyle, actions, and words. Confess the times when you have brought shame, rather than glory, to the name of Jesus. Ask for the Spirit’s enabling to help all your choices be Christ-glorifying.