(#1562) Day 8. Like Jesus, I Have The Promise Of Glory (22/9/26)
Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional (currently posted on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday) as we continue our 9-week series: Fresh Vision From Jesus' High Priestly Prayer from John 17.
To watch this devotional, go to:
Please read John 17:1-5
None of us knows the day of our death - sorry to begin with something so gloomy! Yet, as Christians, we can be sure of where we are going when we die.
We can make plans, but none of us knows exactly what the future holds. Our circumstances can change, our plans can fail, and life can take unexpected turns. Yet God wants us to live with a deep assurance that, whatever happens in this life, our eternal destiny is secure in Christ.
Jesus spoke with complete assurance about His own future. He prayed:
“And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” (John 17:5)
Jesus had no doubt that His suffering and death would lead to glory. He knew that the cross was not the end. His death would be followed by resurrection, exaltation, and a return to the glory He had with the Father before the world began.
And this is the foundation of our hope. Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection are the guarantee of everlasting life for all who belong to Him.
Paul writes:
“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:20)
Jesus is the ‘firstfruits.' His resurrection is the beginning and guarantee of the great resurrection harvest to come. Just as Jesus died and rose again, so those who belong to Him will be raised. When Christ returns, we will receive resurrection bodies like His and enter into the fullness of eternal life.
Jesus prayed for this future for His people:
“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” (John 17:24)
What an extraordinary prayer! Jesus wants us to be with Him and see His glory. Our eternal destiny is not merely to live forever somewhere; it is to be with Jesus and to share in His glory.
Paul gives us one of the most encouraging statements about the Christian's destiny:
‘And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.’ (Romans 8:30)
Notice the certainty of Paul's language. Those whom God has justified, He describes as already ‘glorified.’ The future is spoken of as though it has already happened because God's saving purpose cannot fail!
All who are Christians have been chosen, and all of the chosen will be glorified - raised and reign in the New Heavens and New Earth.
This has a massive effect on us personally. We live with hope. The fear of death is destroyed.
When we are assured of our eternal destiny, we are freed to invest our lives in things of eternal worth rather than living only for what we can gain in this present life.
Peter describes Christians as ‘foreigners and exiles’ in this world (1 Peter 2:11). We are pilgrims on our way home. We can enjoy God's good gifts in this life, but we don't need to make them our ultimate treasure.
Jesus knew where He had come from, where He was going, and what awaited Him. Because of His death and resurrection, we can know where we are going too.
Moment To Reflect
Like Jesus, each of us is called to live with the assurance - with a vision of - our glorious eternal destiny.
Are you confident in your salvation? What tends to rob you of that confidence?
Do you see that Jesus' death and resurrection are the guarantee of your eternal life and future resurrection?
Are you living as a pilgrim - enjoying this world, but investing your life in things of true and lasting worth?
Download the booklet
Below is the link to download the devotional booklet: Fresh Vision From Jesus Prayer. This is a series of 27 devotionals based upon Jesus' High Priestly Prayer in John 17.
This year we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of CCP; to watch our anniversary video, please select the link below:
Community Group Study
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
2. Icebreaker
You might want to use the icebreaker: How has God been speaking to you from His Word recently, and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
Balanced Time Allocation - Please ensure a balanced focus on discussion, SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite), and prayer so that each section is meaningful and fruitful.
On Sunday, we continued our series, Fresh Vision From Jesus’ Prayer, reflecting on God’s vision for our lives and the church through Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer in John 17.
As we spend a final week focusing on the ‘myself’ aspect of our vision we will reflect on the importance of our personal relationship with God based on Jesus’ relationship to the Father.
As we ask the question - ‘Where is my heart?’ we will consider whether our hearts are near or far from the Father.
If we desire to have hearts nearer to Him, will we surrender those things that are getting in the way of our hearts being near to Him?
Read John 17:1–5 together and discuss:
What spoke to, challenged or inspired you from Sunday’s message?
Has anything from the series of devotions particularly encouraged or helped you? If so, what could you share with the group?
On Sunday, we reflected on how, like Jesus, we need a vision of what it means to live as a child of God. How does this understanding of who we are transform the way we live?
As you reflect on Jesus’ prayer in John 17 - as well as what we read of His earthly life in the gospels - how would you describe Jesus’ relationship with God the Father?
Please read James 4:8. and discuss:
What are some examples of things that are impacted by being near something else (e.g. a person standing next to a fan, in the heat of summer vs someone who is far away from the fan)?
Describe the ways a person’s life can be impacted by purposely drawing near to God or by neglecting a close relationship with God (i.e. being ‘far’ from Him).
Where is your heart today? Take some time to consider this question personally. You can either share and discuss this together or take some time to quietly reflect on this.
Let’s pray together:
In our prayers together, we continue with the same themes as last week:
For our new series: Pray that God uses Fresh Vision From Jesus’ Prayer to inspire, refresh, and re-envision us as a church.
For Serendipity: Pray for Graeme, the team, and the relaunch in its new format. Ask God to raise up more volunteers from within the church family.
For students: Pray for the young people in our church and community who are heading off to university.
Let’s also pray for one another based on our study, and bring before God any other needs or requests for prayer.
SIV:
Have you had any recent opportunities to Serve, Invest in, or Invite someone toward Jesus? Let’s encourage one another by sharing testimonies of God at work through us.
Pray for the ‘people of peace’ in our lives, asking God to open their hearts and give us the Love and boldness to share His love as He opens opportunities.
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