As I mentioned several weeks ago, Easter continues for 50 days. Today is the seventh and final Sunday of the Easter season. This week’s gospel reading is part of Jesus’ high priestly prayer:
11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
John 17:11-19 (NIV)
As we near the end of the Easter season, we look forward to Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus’ remaining disciples. This text reminds us that in addition to that Spirit, we have been gifted with the truth found in God’s word. James describes the word of truth as a source of new life, but birth points to the need to grow. (I talked about this idea recently in part of the Wise Words series.) In the Christian life, we often call this process sanctification. The Spirit is essential here, but so is God’s word. How seriously do we take both of these?
Birth points to the need to grow.
Here is this week’s Sunday contemporary collect:
O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son
Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to
strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior
Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
To consider:
- Ask the Lord where you need to grow in your walk with Him.
- With a friend, prayerfully consider practices in which you each might engage that will help you grow in maturity. In addition to committing to praying for one another, consider holding each other accountable.
Thank you so much!
As we think about loving our neighbor, that takes me back to what I’ve been talking about in my new Wise Words series. Your notes have been so encouraging – thank you! Are there particular questions or ideas you’d like for me to dig into a bit more?
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Life Beyond #Blessed 