John 17:20-23

Hey, y'all!
I'm kinda having a little trouble today communicating what's in my heart and mind from these verses, but hopefully it's a bit clearer than mud. I just can't think of another way to put it!
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John 17:20-23
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me."

I think the most intriguing phrase in these verses is the last one: "as You have loved Me". Wow, how amazing is that?! The Father loves us just as He loved Jesus! He loved Jesus so much, He placed Him in a loving earthly family, and gave Him all power in heaven and earth. God loved Jesus so much, He proclaimed to all the world that this was His son, in whom He was well-pleased. He loved Jesus so much, He let Him walk through the anguish and agony of Gethsemane and Calvary.
Whoa, wait a minute! That sentence doesn't seem to fit; it feels a little like one of those "which of these doesn't belong" kind of riddles. But it does belong. Because God loved His Son Jesus, and He knew that Jesus' greatest desire was to glorify the Father and accomplish His will, He did not shelter Christ from the pain of the cross.
And you know what? God also loves us so much, He will let us will walk through our own garden of Gethsemane, our own Calvary, if that is what it takes to accomplish His plan in our lives and bring Him glory.

Father, thank You for Your love! More than anything, I want to bring You glory, to know that my life is all that You want it to be--whatever it takes!

May the Lord bless you richly with His overwhelming love!

Dancing in the rain,
Haley "SunShine" Miller
"Exhort one another daily while it is called 'Today'" (Hebrews 3:13)
Mornin' SunShine Website