3/5/2009 - Can You Hear Jesus Praying? (Part 1)

Quiet Time 3-5-09:  Can you hear Jesus praying? PART 1 – Knowing God

I continue to be amazed and humbled at how God speaks during my quiet time and it makes no sense that so little time is spent seeking God.  We live in a busy world and one that says so many other things are more important.  I am ashamed to say that I almost let this week pass without Quiet Time, nothing was coming to me and I told myself if God wanted me to write something He would give it to me; BUT I wasn’t taking time to seek Him, be still and listen.  As I “thought about” Quiet Time I had something in mind . . . something about Christians being on the right train but getting sidetracked and stopping at different stations and sometimes getting off one train and boarding another before reaching the final destination.  Those were thoughts I had before seeking Him by praying and getting in His Word.  Then came quiet time . . .

We often talk about the power of prayer; personal prayer, intercessory prayer and corporate prayer.  Prayer IS powerful.  I know I have seen prayer work in awesome ways and I’m sure you have also.  John 17 gives us a prayer of Jesus.  How powerful do you think the prayer of Jesus is?  Talk about a direct line to God, Jesus certainly has that if anybody does.   In this prayer, Jesus first explains that both God and Jesus Christ receive glory by others having eternal life.  Jesus explains that eternal life comes from “knowing” God and Jesus Christ.  This says that salvation is more than believing that there is a God that sent His son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins.  This says that salvation is more than a prayer confessing sins, and asking forgiveness.  Jesus said that eternal life is “to know” God and Jesus Christ.  This “to know” does not mean simply to know about or to believe.  To know God is more than having knowledge that comes from mental and emotional experiences.  To know God includes love, reverence, obedience, honor, gratitude, and deep affection that only comes with an intimate relationship. Knowing God and Jesus Christ requires seeking Him and getting close to Him (letting Him get close to us).  I understand that the original Greek word for “know” was ginosko which is used in the same way the Hebrew word yada’ is used which both describe the relationship of sexual intimacy.  No doubt, when Jesus said eternal life comes by knowing God and Jesus Christ, He was describing much more than just being introduced or acquainted.  We are to know God and Jesus well enough to be like Christ.  The better we know Him, the more like Christ we can become.  As humans, that is impossible, but by seeking to know Him and being open to the Holy Spirit, we can certainly be moving in that direction.

I thank the Lord for the opportunity to bring glory to Him and I pray that I may do so more each day.

. . . make smart choices, love everybody, be a blessing, I love you and have a great day.

John 17 (New Living Translation)
The Prayer of Jesus
 1 After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. 2 For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. 3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. 4 I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.