John 17: This is the LIFE

"This is the LIFE!" These four short words are so familiar to us.  We've spoken them.  Likely it was at the sands of the ocean, the mountaintops of our life experiences, or a relaxing cooling night. With a deep sigh and enjoying the coolness of the air we say with joy, "Ah this is the life!"

Similarly and yet completely differently, as children of God we rest and relax in the sure foundation and future promises of our Redeemer and say to the world, "This is the LIFE!" 

Jesus stepped from time's beginning to our time.  He stepped from the throne of heaven to the dirt of earth.  He stepped from death to life.  To LIFE that will never end.  This is the LIFE He freely gives to us, who believe Him.

Though, have we completely breathed-in the invigorating, powerful, life-giving gifts of God?  Have we turned our heart, mind, and life upward to God for His daily mercy, forgiveness, and strength to carry us through each day?  Have we inhaled the awesome opportunity to breathe-out (live-out) our lives to others?  Let's live-out to them by bringing them help, hope, and healing in the name of the one who loves us and gave us "THIS LIFE".

"This is the LIFE" :

•  "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." John 19:3
• "May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me." John 17:21b
• "I have made you (Father) known to them (my disciples), and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them, and that I myself may be in them." John 17:26

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A devotion on PRAYER.  John 17 is known on the High Priestly Prayer. Here is a thought provoking  meditation from Oswald Chambers on John 17:2, from Utmost for His Highest.  There are parts you may agree with and others you may not, feel free to comment and start a conversation here on the blog.

If you are going through a solitary way, read John 17, it will explain exactly why you are where you are- Jesus has prayed that you may be one with the Father as He is. Are you helping God to answer that prayer, or have you some other end for your life?  Since you became a disciple you cannot be as independent as you used to be.


The purpose of God is not to answer our prayers, but by our prayers we come to discern the mind of God, and this s revealed in John 17. There is one prayer God must answer, and that is the prayer of Jesus- 'that they maybe one, even as We are One."  Are we as close to Jesus Christ as that?


God is not concerned about our plans; He does not say- Do you want to go through this bereavement; this upset?  He allows these things for His won purpose.  The things we are going through are either making us sweeter, better, nobler men and women; or they are making us more captious and fault-finding, more insistent upon our own way.  The things that happen either make us fiends, or they make us saints; it depends entirely upon the relationship we are in to God. If we say- "Thy will be done," we get the consolation of John 17, the consolation of knowing that our Father is working according to His own wisdom.  When we understand what God is after we will not get mean and cynical.  Jesus has prayed nothing less for us than absolute oneness with Himself ans He was one with the Father.  Some of us are far off it, and yet God will not leave us alone until we are one with Him, because Jesus has prayed that we maybe.