I
was resting with Jesus, thinking about the way He had led me to process everything which had happened to me lately.
As usual, writing the blog about it had helped me understand it better, as I process things largely through writing, and since I had posted the blog, I was continuing to see things a little clearer- to see the way Jesus had led me so faithfully to a good conclusion, one that I could not have come to on my own.
We were talking very quietly together, almost like breathing. Because I was surrounded by His love, it was possible for me to let go of my defenses and to be vulnerable.
What did you do? Jesus asked, to focus my drifting thoughts and pull me into open dialogue with Him.
“It’s like I drew a circle around them and included them and me at the same time, even in our differences.”
I felt His deep pleasure at this. How was that accomplished?
“I let go of being the only one who could be right… I let them be right, too.”
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God,” Jesus reminded me, full of pleasure.
It was surprising to me that Jesus made that connection, but I could understand it, once He pointed it out.
“Yes… And that is very important to You, isn’t it?” I mused, remembering how that was included in one of His most important addresses, the Sermon on the Mount.
But it requires a great deal, Jesus reminded me.
“Yes," I acknowledged. "I must be willing to lay down my need to be right at their expense, and my desire to be high, and include them, even if it diminishes or humbles me. I must, like that verse says, esteem them as greater than myself, while remaining myself before You. They are honoring You and I am honoring You, each in our own way. I don't have to justify myself at their expense- my justification is in You alone, as is theirs, and I can rest in that."
As I said this, I caught a glimpse of something much larger than what I was first thinking.
What might that look like? Jesus asked, almost without words, prompting me to step back and look at what I had seen.
“A kind of humble unity of loving You,” I replied, slowly. “A kind of unity of separate parts appearing on the outside to be different, but all with their hearts toward You. They are humbly making room for one another, out of love for You. They are loving one another because they love You.”
His prayer in the garden came back to my mind, lit up with meaning and emotion- not just a line I had read, but something alive, full of His intense desire.
“That we should be one, even as You and Abba are one,” I quoted to Jesus, tenderly, because His intense desire for that to be made Him vulnerable. It was like the inner most part of His heart, pouring out of Him.
*
"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."
Philipians 2:1-4
*
And He began to teach them:
As usual, writing the blog about it had helped me understand it better, as I process things largely through writing, and since I had posted the blog, I was continuing to see things a little clearer- to see the way Jesus had led me so faithfully to a good conclusion, one that I could not have come to on my own.
We were talking very quietly together, almost like breathing. Because I was surrounded by His love, it was possible for me to let go of my defenses and to be vulnerable.
What did you do? Jesus asked, to focus my drifting thoughts and pull me into open dialogue with Him.
“It’s like I drew a circle around them and included them and me at the same time, even in our differences.”
I felt His deep pleasure at this. How was that accomplished?
“I let go of being the only one who could be right… I let them be right, too.”
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God,” Jesus reminded me, full of pleasure.
It was surprising to me that Jesus made that connection, but I could understand it, once He pointed it out.
“Yes… And that is very important to You, isn’t it?” I mused, remembering how that was included in one of His most important addresses, the Sermon on the Mount.
But it requires a great deal, Jesus reminded me.
“Yes," I acknowledged. "I must be willing to lay down my need to be right at their expense, and my desire to be high, and include them, even if it diminishes or humbles me. I must, like that verse says, esteem them as greater than myself, while remaining myself before You. They are honoring You and I am honoring You, each in our own way. I don't have to justify myself at their expense- my justification is in You alone, as is theirs, and I can rest in that."
As I said this, I caught a glimpse of something much larger than what I was first thinking.
What might that look like? Jesus asked, almost without words, prompting me to step back and look at what I had seen.
“A kind of humble unity of loving You,” I replied, slowly. “A kind of unity of separate parts appearing on the outside to be different, but all with their hearts toward You. They are humbly making room for one another, out of love for You. They are loving one another because they love You.”
His prayer in the garden came back to my mind, lit up with meaning and emotion- not just a line I had read, but something alive, full of His intense desire.
“That we should be one, even as You and Abba are one,” I quoted to Jesus, tenderly, because His intense desire for that to be made Him vulnerable. It was like the inner most part of His heart, pouring out of Him.
*
"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."
Philipians 2:1-4
*
And He began to teach them:
Blessed are the spiritually poor—the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Blessed are those who mourn—they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek and gentle—they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness—they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful—they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are those who are pure in heart—they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers—they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness—the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
-Matthew 5:2-10, Voice
*
“I am not praying only on their behalf, but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their testimony, that they will all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. I pray that they will be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me. The glory you gave to me I have given to them, that they may be one just as we are one – I in them and you in me – that they may be completely one, so that the world will know that you sent me, and you have loved them just as you have loved me."
Blessed are those who mourn—they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek and gentle—they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness—they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful—they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are those who are pure in heart—they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers—they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness—the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
-Matthew 5:2-10, Voice
*
“I am not praying only on their behalf, but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their testimony, that they will all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. I pray that they will be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me. The glory you gave to me I have given to them, that they may be one just as we are one – I in them and you in me – that they may be completely one, so that the world will know that you sent me, and you have loved them just as you have loved me."
John 17:20-23, NET
