Miriam Thurlow writes:
A Call back to intimacy
The summer is often scattered in many ways, but as I look back on how I have met with God and what He has been saying I can see a theme emerge: a call back to intimacy with Him
⁃ A call back to the simplicity of waiting in Ηis presence
⁃ A call back to prioritise unhurried time in His word
⁃ A call back to worship and glorify His name
⁃ A call back to keep asking, 2 discipleship questions
As I have been reflecting on this, I have drawn out 3 invitations from John 17
An invitation to KNOW GOD.
A knowing that is relational, not simply about information. A knowing that is a covenant relationship with God. Spending time with Him. Dwelling with Him. Walking with Him. Speaking with Him. Obeying Him.
An invitation to CONTINUE TO KNOW GOD + GROW.
It’s also about a growing sense of knowing, not a static one. Jesus prays the disciples will be kept and protected. He also prays that they might have His joy fulfilled in them.
His joy which is rooted in unbroken fellowship with God His Father.
His joy which is the fruit of true faith and confidence in His Father.
His joy which comes from seeing the great things God had done.
His joy which is never diminished by deception.
His joy which never diminished by allowing even the smallest foothold to the devil.
Jesus also prays that the disciples would be sanctified. Therefore, the invitation to KNOW God is also an invitation to continue to KNOW God and to GROW, made possible by the protection of the Father, the gift of the Son’s joy, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit in and through us.
An invitation to BE LOVED.
Jesus’ prayer ends in love. The love of the Father surrounding Jesus, is the same love Jesus prays will surround all who follow Him. We see a beautiful example of this just 3 chapters later in John 20 when Jesus calls Mary by name at the tomb. Ronald Rolheiser observes about this moment: ‘In doing that, [Jesus] tells her what she and everyone else is forever looking for - God’s voice, one-to-one, speaking unconditional love, gently saying your name. In the end, that is what we are all looking for and most need’ (Sacred Fire, pp182). Without love we cannot truly KNOW God or CONTINUE TO KNOW + GROW into all that He has for us. The invitation to KNOW God is an invitation to BE LOVED by God and learn to respond in kind, keeping on saying God I love you.
Rev Miriam Thurlow Associate Vicar CCBN