'I in them, and You in Me'

"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. Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."                                   John 17:20-26

Jesus was never interested in a casual relationship with those of us who are called by His name.  The relationship that He desires, that which He asks of the Father, is much more than a once a week connection.  It’s much more than a monthly communion remembrance.  And it’s much more than the fulfillment of an annual obligation.  Jesus desires a deep abiding relationship…us in Him and Him in us.  The key word of His prayer is so simple and yet so significant.  It’s the word, ‘in’.  So easy to overlook, this ‘in’ speaks of oneness and intimacy.  His desire to be ‘in’ us explains why we’re instructed to consume the elements that represent His body and blood.  We remember what He accomplished on the cross by taking Him ‘in’ us.

This idea of oneness and intimacy is also displayed through the relationship between a husband and his wife.  Ephesians 5:31-32 says, ‘“and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.’

In so many ways, our Lord expresses His love for us and His desire to be one with us, to be ‘in’ us.  His love for us is above and beyond what we could ever deserve.  This love amazes me!  John goes on to say in 1 John 4:13 that we can know if we’re rightly related to Christ by the evidence of His Spirit.

^‘By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit’.

The oneness that we could never accomplish on our own, He does in us!  Again, this love amazes me!

My faith, as small as it sometimes seems, is what makes me accepted into this beloved relationship.  To simply believe (John 6:29) in One who so readily gives evidence of Himself, is such a small step that yields such a great reward.  And by my faith and through my life, He reveals Himself to others who are in need of this great love.

Beloved, you are greatly loved.  You are, have been, and will be the ‘apple of His eye’.  It’s not something you deserve, it’s something He desires!  Walk in this love in such a way that others may know Him.  That they may walk together with us in Him and Him in us!

Be blessed!

Some Things Don't Change

Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.    

                                                                                                            Proverbs 22:6

Each generation has a language of its day.  I’m speaking of what many would refer to as ‘slang’.  When properly used, slang terms are the identifiers which state that you belong to a particular group.  These terms distinguish you from your elders and from those too young for the terms to have relevance or meaning.  Some of the terms of old were ‘hip’ or ‘cool’ or even ‘groovy’.

Today, there are phrases like,

            Turn up                        - - -      To get excited or an encouragement to do something

            Ratchet                         - - -      Ghetto, something without class

            Dope                              - - -      Really cool

            Tight                              - - -      Cool, together

            Get Snatched              - - -      Getting in good physical shape

            Get Yoked                   - - -      Getting buff, muscular physical shape

            Giving Me Life           - - -      A compliment, ie – Your outfit is ‘giving me life’

            Lies you Tell               - - -      A declaration that the person speaking is not telling

                                                                        the truth           

            Go Ham                       - - -      Going hard for something, using a lot of energy to

                                                                        obtain something

As I write this, I’m amused by the slang terms of old used to define the slang terms of today. 

And if this were not enough to keep up with, our children have another language.  I call it ‘Tech Talk’.  Our children have multiple venues for keeping in touch with others.  It's called Social Media.  There’s Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Tumblr, Vine and Pheed.  I have no idea what most of these are and have not used any of them.  I guess I’ve just dated myself.

Some Tech Talk terms,

            LOL     - - -      Laugh Out Loud

            WYL   - - -      Whatever You Like

            ROFL  - - -      Roll on the Floor Laughing

            JK        - - -      Just Kidding

            TTYL   - - -      Talk to You Later

            BRB     - - -      Be Right Back

            FRFR   - - -      For Real, For Real , which in it’s further translation is an

                                    expression of sincerity about that which is being discussed

            ARD    - - -      Aii Ight, which stands for ‘all right’

And the simple one which confused me,

            GM      - - -      Good Morning!

It’s fun learning the language of the young.  And it’s amazing that if you’re not in their age range, no matter how appropriate your usage of the term, it’s not correct if You say it.  I guess after a certain age the tones of our voice change making it impossible to be ‘Dope’ with our kids.

For all that’s changing in our world, I do have confidence in what has not, and will not change and that is God’s Word. Proverbs 22:6 gives instruction for raising our children.  The Hebrew translation of this passage is to, ‘Initiate the child at the opening (the mouth) of his path’.  This speaks of training, beginning at the point when a child is able to choose (between right and wrong), providing direction and instruction consistent with the make-up of the child.  The Hebrew word defined as ‘train up’ also signifies dedicating or consecrating something to the Lord.  We are to teach, guide and direct our children from their very beginnings, enabling them to distinguish good from evil, right from wrong and giving them incentive and motivation to choose what is good and right.  We are to teach our children that there is a God who loves and cares for them as Father.  We are to teach our children the Word, which will serve as a ‘lighted path’ for their lifetime.  Of all the things that change from generation to generation, I am glad for the Solid Rock foundation of the Word which doesn’t change.  Now that’s ‘tight’! 

Be Blessed.