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20514 Man in Mirror

Fri/Sat/Sun—November 24–26•Understanding One Another “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.” (John 17:20–22) In His high priestly prayer recorded in John 17, Jesus asked God to instill in His followers a sense of unity and love. He notes that, as we express this love, the world will take notice. If you’ve ever invested time and energy in a garden, you know you don’t get a crop simply by pulling weeds. At some point you have to plant some seeds. In keeping with that principle, Jesus calls His followers to expand His kingdom by growing disciples. We won’t grow disciples simply by weeding out and defeating our opponents or by warring against cultural norms. If that strategy could bring change, we’d already have won the battle. We won’t grow disciples by knocking off evil people or by ridiculing them or even by expressing anger toward them. Jesus gave us a weapon that the world doesn’t expect. He gave us love and unity. He’s the Prince of Peace, and His purpose is reconciliation in our vertical relationship with Him, and in our horizontal relationships with others. The next time you’re in an argument, even if you know you’re correct, present your position wrapped up in the love that Jesus has already offered to you. When we truly understand the depth of care that Jesus has for us, we can offer that same love to others. We also can experience the full measure of our Lord’s joy as we pursue His eternal purposes.  WEEK Week 7 John 13:34–35 says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” In your own words, explain how that corresponds to His words here in John 17. Daily Reading: Ezekiel 47:1–48:35, Daniel 1:1–3:30, 1 Peter 2:11–5:14, Psalm 119:49–96, Proverbs 28:12–16 FOR YOUR SMALL GROUP November 20–26 What does your life look like in the moments when you experience robust joy? ■ What does it look like when you don’t live in that reality? ■ What habits or priorities would help you move toward experiencing that joy on an ongoing basis? 42


20514 Man in Mirror
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