"Raise a Glass"

 "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee, Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are." (John 17:11 KJV)

  "May God, who give this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 15:5-6 NLT)

 Taking a good look at this verse, there at least three things that need to be focused upon, if not, six or seven! First of all, Jesus is speaking to the Father as if He has already departed this world, which in a sense, is quite fitting because He has now, in a manner of speaking, become the Lamb, waiting to be sacrificed. 

 The ministry days are just about over, one more miracle will be done before His death; other than that, He is now being led to the slaughter! From the time He gets arrested, there is no more to do, but just be led like a Lamb, from one point to another; each one making Him less and less of this world. 

 Secondly, speaking of His disciples, knowing full well what they would go through, and how they would all be persecuted and badly treated, He pleads with His Father. Take that in for a few moments, as you think about those you care about, especially those who you would hope to see with you in heaven. Are they worth pleading for? 

 In this case, Jesus already knew who would make it, and who would not; yet He still pleads for their protection; but more than that, He pleads that they would be one! There really is quite a lot to take from this, as it was the one voice of the people building the Tower of Babel, causing God to say, "If they have begun to do this as one people speaking the same language, then nothing they devise will be beyond them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another's speech." (Genesis 11:6-7)

 The third thing is that They are One! The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are One God: Three in One! Which reminds me of something I saw yesterday, as I was walking down Downtown Disney to make reservations for dinner tonight; there was a large display of J.W. magazines and flyers, right there in Downtown Disney. Several J.W.s were sitting there, and as I looked over at them, they all gazed at me, as I walked by. 

 That might not register to some, because it basically means that they gazed at me because they knew who I was, a follower of Jesus! I was kidding with a friend of mine the other day, saying, "I always wanted to go a sit in a Kingdom Hall, while they were passing communion, just so I can partake of the bread and wine, as it is passed around, while nobody partakes!" 

 If you don't understand, don't worry about it, it really doesn't matter. But the spirit of the Antichrist is already here, and those that have that spirit, know who is against them. Which reminds me of a little encounter I had early on, in my first year of being a Christian. I visited a porn shop in a quest to try and satisfy an old habit; and as soon as I walked into the store, everyone gazed at me, as if I had just entered their den, and I instantly felt like an intruder. 

 That was the same gaze I received yesterday. There really is an association between both groups of people...

"If we live, it's to honor the Lord. And if we die, it's to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose - to be Lord both of the living and of the dead. So why do you condemn another believer? Why do look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, "'As surely as I live,' says the LORD, 'every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.'"" (Romans 14:10-11 NLT)