Jesus speaking of His disciples: John 17:6, 11-12, 14, 20-21 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. “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 experienced a profound lesson this week at work as I struggled to lead and mentor my 11 staff, amidst a divisive time of low morale. God moved in miraculous ways as we sat around a large table on Wednesday and talked about gossip and how to respect one another. It was beautiful to see these young women open up their hearts, while listening wholeheartedly to one other do the same.
It was the next day that my devotion was focused on building disciples. The reflection time described Jesus' parting words in John 17 about leaving His own 12 disciples to go and spread the good news to the world about what they had learned firsthand from Jesus himself, our Savior.
It blew me away to see the parallel in my own life. God chose those exact 12 men for Jesus to lead and love, just as He chose these exact 11 women for me to teach and love. Jesus saw potential in every one- He knew these would be the ones to tell the world about Him and start the movement. Throughout His ministry, they were foolish, weak, baby believers. By the end of their lives, they were bold, courageous, strong, faithful martyrs for God. It is because of them that I sit here today writing this, reading a Bible, and knowing who Christ is. Jesus knew those exact men would be the ones to do it.
I also want to see the potential in each of my staff. I want to look in their eyes and not only see what's there, deeply rooted in their hearts now, but what can be. I want them to believe in their potential and to see themselves how God sees them.
I want to continue to be a part of their growth as they process this life, sharing what God has done for me and what He wants to do for then. God has placed them in my life for such a time as this and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
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