Ordinary Time

Pause

As we read the words of Scripture, take a moment and reflect on how God’s word has encouraged you and could bring action steps into your life.

“For the word of God is living and active…” (Hebrews 4:12, ESV)

Listen

“I’m praying for them. I’m not praying for the world but for those you gave me, because they are yours. Everything that is mine is yours and everything that is yours is mine; I have been glorified in them. I’m no longer in the world, but they are in the world, even as I’m coming to you. Holy Father, watch over them in your name, the name you gave me, that they will be one just as we are one.”

John 17:9-11

Think

We see in this passage that Jesus cares greatly for his disciples, as he is asking God to protect them: “watch over them.” Why would Jesus pray so tenderly for his disciples? I believe a few words in the passage explain this. Christ says to God “for those you gave me,” “they are yours.” Other versions state, “They belong to you.” Jesus believed his disciples belonged to him and God.

Do you realize that you belong to God and Christ? 1 Corinthians 3:23 states, “You belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.” 1 John 3 tells us that we are God’s children. We are part of and belong in God’s family!

Jesus feels tenderly towards us as he did to his disciples because we belong to him as well. Can you believe this word is true for you? How might the truth of this word, that you belong, change you? What if you really believed you belong in God’s family, that you are precious to God and worth protecting?

Kimberly McLeod

Pray

Dear God, open my mind and my heart to believe this, to fully understand that I belong to you. Reveal to me what it means to be a part of your family. Help me experience more of your love today as a child of God. Amen.

Go

Look for God revealing the truths of the word to you, in your day-to-day life, in your friends, in your family.

Ask the Spirit to open your eyes to the power of the word.

Spend time in Scripture seeking to receive, understand, and believe the word.