On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus Christ had a private conversation with God, the Father, His words are documented for us in the 17^th chapter of John. Imagine! God, the Son, has a private conversation with God, the Father, and God wants us to know the contents! The disciples were nearby sleeping. They did not hear His words. Yet, these words are meant for you and I to know. Let’s look at His words about the Father’s love for you and me.

John 17:¹These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: ²As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. ³And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

When we receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior we receive the inheritance He bequeathed to us: knowledge of the One true God and Jesus Christ Whom He has sent. If you have received Jesus as Lord and Savior, you have knowledge to understand His words in this documentation.

God the Father loves you as much as He loves His Son, Jesus

²³I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

The Father loves you and me, the rebellious ones who are worthy of death and judgment, as much as He loves His Son, who took on Himself our judgment and death!

The Father and the Son abide in you and me that we may be made perfect.

Perfect = mature, competent

The Father and the Son abide in you and me that the world may know the Father loves you and me as much as He loves Jesus, His Son!

What do these words mean to you?

How can it be that Jesus thought about you and me when He was hours away from the crucifixion?

The Father’s love, from before the foundation of the world, abides in you and me

²⁴Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. ²⁵O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. ²⁶And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

What does having the Father’s love abide in you mean to you?

What does having the Father love you mean to you?

Perhaps you have not received Jesus as Lord and Savior. You can change that now!

John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: ¹⁵That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. ¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ¹⁷For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. ¹⁸He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ¹⁹And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

2 Peter 3:⁸ But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Our focus – Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ²Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed  and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti