Inclusion vs. Exclusion
For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. Galatians 3:26
When we look at Jesus, what do we see? We see a man who is loved by his father, accepted by his father, secure in that relationship with his father, knowledgeable of his father’s priorities and consequently ready, sent, focused and equipped. Equipped to do what? To reflect the Father’s heart to the fullest extent. Jesus reflected the Fathers heart. You might be single, you might be married, you might be young, you might be old, you might be a boss, you might be an employee, but wherever you are your purpose in life is to reflect your Fathers heart wherever you go. So, the big idea according to Jesus is that the exact same connection with God’s will that he had, he wants you to have and he said it.
Jesus prays this in John 17:23 “I in them, you in me” talking about his Father, “May they be brought to complete unity,” why, “to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” Jesus wants you to know unconditional acceptance of the father personally.
In John 17:3 Jesus says “Now this is eternal life that they may know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” What is Jesus praying for us? “That they may know the Father and Jesus Christ whom He has sent”. He wants us to enter that father-son relationship. He wants us to live there, share in that and then reproduce that.
Father, thank you for including me in your only begotten son’s relationship with you.