Carol J German

In God’s Word there is a prayer that is spoken by Christ Himself. You can read its entirety in John 17. I want to focus on verses 20-26. It is the very words of Christ for you and I today. May this Christmas become the most beautiful one yet. What makes Christmas beautiful is not the lighted trees, presents, or Santa and snowmen, it is the Trinity and what they have for you.

When Christ becomes the center of your life, you get to celebrate Christmas and Easter every day.

In these verses, Jesus is praying, “for all who will ever believe in Me.”²⁰ If you have received Jesus Christ and are following His Word and what the Holy Spirit is calling you to do, listen in. If you are still searching to what this means, listen in. God leads every heart to a firm foundation where you can begin to know Him personally and learn to walk in obedience to your Savior and Lord. God sent His precious Son so every person who chooses faith in Christ can experience an abundant life full of love, grace and mercy.

Jesus’ prayer reveals His heart for you and I. He prays that every believer will be one, just as He is with His Father; see verse 21. Jesus’ mission on earth is to help the world believe that God the Father sent His Son to save a dying world; see John 3:16.

Jesus gives believers the same glory that God gave Him. What is the glory of God? “It is the beauty of His Spirit. It is not an aesthetic beauty or a material beauty, but it is the beauty that emanates from His character, from all that He is.” (gotquestions.org) You will exude God’s glory when you follow after Jesus and live abiding in the Spirit.

Stop and think about what Jesus is saying here, “I am in them and You are in Me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent Me, and that You love them as much as You love Me.”²³

This Christmas will become even more beautiful when you grasp the oneness that God offers you through His Son. It is way more than simply believing Jesus as you seek your own will in your life. When a sinful soul surrenders everything at the feet of Jesus and tells Him that He can do as He sees fit, a dead soul comes alive and rises up to the Rock of his salvation. There, a redeemed soul enjoys an unbelievable inheritance that emanates from God’s love, grace and mercy.

This is the the heart of Christ for you, “Father, I want these whom You have given Me to be with Me where I am.”²⁴

God wants you. Do you really understand this? Don’t be quick to say, “Yes.” Human nature blinds truth. Your flesh does not naturally follow God. It is quite the opposite. Every believer must choose daily, even moment-by-moment, to live where their spirit is awake to God.

Jesus speaks of this in verse 25, “O righteous Father, the world does not know You, but I do.” Thus, it is imperative that you follow Jesus wholeheartedly. He does know the way home. Know the scriptures well. Your Bible is your sustenance to keep your faith alive and well. Jesus continues, “These disciples know You sent Me.”

Look at Jesus’ final part of His prayer: “I have revealed You to them, and I will continue to do so.”²⁶ Jesus is letting you know that He is head over heels in love with you for He will reveal God to you in a personal, intimate way. The more you seek Jesus in His Word, the more you will know God.

Amen my friends. What a beautiful payer to say and believe in for this Christmas season. The greatest birthday gift you can give Jesus is yourself. Trust and obey and see what God will do for you.