Are you a victim or victor?

John 17 is an interesting section of Scripture. It happens to take place right before Good Friday and Jesus death on Calvary. An outsider standing there observing the events of John 17 and Jesus pending death on Calvary could easily see Jesus as a victim. A victim of circumstance. A victim of betrayal. A victim to those who had it out for him from the beginning. But that's not how Jesus speaks in John 17. Check out the whole chapter when you have a chance. Here's a link to Bible Gateway for an easy read through the chapter: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+17&version=EHV.

You will notice that 19 times in John 17, the word "world" is mentioned. Do you think there might be a connection between the trouble and difficulties we encounter coming from us living in the world? A world that is fallen in sin ever since Adam and Eve's fall into sin in the garden of Eden. Global pandemics, racial unrest, business closures, layoffs and furloughs, financial angst, and the list goes on with all things we face today. In John chapter 17:13 we are reminded that although we are in the world, we are not to be of the world. It's hard not to get wrapped up in our daily struggles.

One could easily see the circumstances around them with a victim mentality. Why is this happening to me? Why did I lose my job? Why does my family member have cancer? Why does my boss hate me? Why does my co-worker have it out for me? Why does my sales competitor who cuts all the corners and lies to his clients always seem to land the deal away from us? Perhaps you are reading this post and feeling much that same way. Maybe you are feeling more like a victim than a victor. The context of John 17 would have us picture something rather different. Jesus points us to being a victor in John 17:1-3. "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son so that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you gave him authority over all flesh, so that he may give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent."

And as a victor, here are 5 things to be praying for yourself and for those around you. The same things Jesus prayed for in John 17.

#1 - Joy

John 17:13 "But now I am coming to you, and I am saying these things in the world, so that they may be filled with my joy." EHV

Pray for joy in your life and for joy in the lives of others around you such as co-workers, family, friends that they may have joy. It's easy to look around you and today and lose joy. Compliment a co-worker. Send an encouraging note. Compliment someone who gave you excellent service. Be cheerful and make everyone's day around you with greetings that show them you care about them.

#2 - Keep us in God's Word

John 17:17-19 "Sanctify them by the truth. Your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I also sent them into the world. 19 I sanctify myself for them, so they also may be sanctified by the truth."

Pray that we hold to God's Word. We justify things very easily. We make sacrifices to our standards. We are called to hold firm to God's Word. Act with integrity. Hold to your Christian principles.

The world loves to honor things like deceit and selfishness. The world tells you it's the easiest way to get ahead in your career. It's okay to sacrifice your principles and the things you stand for. Jesus hear encourages us to instead honor selflessness and honesty. Keep God's Word in front of you as the standard. It will continue to be the light to your path.

#3 - Unity

John 17:20-23 "I am praying not only for them, but also for those who believe in me through their message. 21 May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be one in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. 22 I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one: 23 I in them, and you in me. May they become completely one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me."

Pray for those around to have peace in their lives. Pray that you have unity with co-workers and bosses so that your work environment and culture are filled with peace and productivity. If you have disagreement with someone, speak to them. Don't let the conflict linger over a long period of time. While it may be hard and challenging, if you deal with the conflict sooner rather than later you will have more peace in your life.

#4 - See God's Glory

John 17:24 "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am so that they may see my glory—the glory you gave me because you loved me before the world’s foundation."

Pray for opportunities to point others to God's glory and see Christ as their savior. The greatest gift we can give to others is being a witness that shows the love of Christ to others and allows them to see their Savior.

#5 - Love

John 17:25-26 "Righteous Father, the world did not know you, but I knew you, and these men knew that you sent me. 26 I made your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love you have for me may be in them and that I may be in them.”

Add to your prayers: help me be a loving person. Help me be a loving co-worker. Help me be a loving neighbor. How can you show love to those around you? What are small and big ways you can make a difference in someone else's life by showing Christian love to them?

Just remember, in Christ - in his victory over sin and death on the cross and resurrection on Easter Sunday morning, you are more than a conqueror. You are not a victim. You are a Victor.