Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 17.22

John 17:22 “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one;” What is the glory that the Father gave the Son that He gave to us so we can be one as they are one? We find the answer two verses later when Jesus said, “so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. The love the Father gave to His Son is the love that the Son gave to us so that we may be one as they are one. In John 15:9 Jesus blessed His disciples saying, “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you, abide in my love.” Since we know that Jesus didn’t do anything apart from His Father, we know that it was the Father’s plan and command for Jesus to love us as He is loved by His Father. Living to love with Jesus flows out of the love Jesus has for us, and that love flows out of the Father’s love for His Son and us. This love is the light in a world that has no enduring bond of unity. You can tell those who are His because they love the brethren, wrote John in his first letter in 3:14, “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.” And in 2:9-10. “The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.” As Jesus loves us and we love others, the glory of God rests upon us. So when we love in Jesus’ name, we are manifesting the glory of God to the world. That is our chief end. To glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com