Praying for You

Praying For You

Reading: Jeremiah 18-20; Psalm 93; John 17 20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.” (John 17:20-21 NLT) Jesus prayed for you. He prayed that night for the disciples who had followed him and learned from him for the past few years. But he also prayed for you and me (“for all who will ever believe in me through their message”). Jesus prayed for you and me. I looked to see what he was praying for us. He prayed that the Father would not take us out of the world but keep us from the evil one, and that we would be part of a unified body of Christ-followers, unified just as he and his Father were in perfect unity. Later, in his letters to churches, Paul exhorts us to be unified and to live in harmony with each other. Here, Jesus asks the Father to make us “one” (fully unified). So there’s God’s part of bringing unity and there’s our part of bringing unity. 18 As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself entirely to you so they also might be entirely yours. (John 17:18-19 NLT) The intended outcome of Jesus’ prayer for us is this:
• That we will be in the world as Jesus was in the world—to love, seek, serve, sacrifice, and save.
• That as Jesus gave himself entirely to the Father and his mission, we will give ourselves entirely and unreservedly to our Father and his Kingdom purpose.
• That we may be perfectly united so that the world will see and believe that God loves, gives, sends, and saves.

We’ve sure got a long way to go with this! Let’s get started today! Prayer: Father, I purpose to contribute my part of the unity equation. I purpose to show respect for my fellow believers, to bless and not criticize, to pray for them rather than talk about them. I purpose to love and give and serve. Jesus prayed for unity. I know you’re doing your part. Please help us to do our part. Amen.