“Holy Father, keep them true to Thy name—the name which Thou hast given me to bear—that they may be one, even as we are. John 17:11 (WEY)

Early last week I came upon a survey form on a website asking the question, “For what are you most thankful?” There were several options given, like job, money, and health, etc. and upon making your choice the results were shown as percentages of all responders. It was interesting to see that by far the greatest amount of thanks expressed was for family. Above material and personal provisions there was a higher appreciation and value indicated for relationships with those who were given as kinfolk.

In Jesus’ prayer to His Father before committing Himself as the purchase price for our redemption He gave indication of what He considered to be of greatest value. Like the survey I took, His greatest appreciation was expressed for family, those given to Him for relationship and fellowship. Rather than praying for the preservation of any earthly thing, His heart’s expression was for the keeping of those who had become most valuable to Him. Though there were surely faults in each of them enough to disqualify, Jesus considered each to be worthy of God’s own defense and preservation. Against any threat that might damage or divide them He was asking that the forces of heaven might provide a secure refuge. There would surely be conflicts and disagreements that would rise between them, but their overall preservation would be much more necessary than the victory of any single side. In the name of the Lord would be a refuge of eternally preserving unity.

There is a survey question we are frequently responding to (whether realized or not) that is indicating the priority of relationships to other elements in our lives. Given the opportunity to enter into strife or offense we are choosing to either allow entrance by one of our enemy’s most threatening weapons or effectively resist his attempts by running into the name of Jesus. Those relationships that are truly from the Father will be preserved there in His name, while any threat, whether of man or other earthly concern will not be able to exist in the realm of true worship and sacrifice that His name provides.

In the presence of the Lord there is an opportunity today for Jesus’ heart prayer to be answered as our place in His body is strengthened through the preservation of those relationships He’s so graciously given. Any threat to this unity will be effectively thwarted in the heart of all who enter the refuge of His nearness. Rather than reason and emotion guiding choices, a heart response will be right in line with that of our Redeemer in His ‘Most Thankful’ selection.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 30th, 2009 at 6:16 am and is filed under Relationship. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.