December 23, 2013 (John 15, 16, 17, 18)
From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:
Scripture: “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 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
Observation: What a joy and blessing to know Jesus has prayed for us! The Son of God, The Messiah, The Creator of all things prayed to the Father on our behalf. Not only for His disciples that was with Him that day, but for all that ever come to believe in Christ through their message. He has called us out from among the world and set us apart for His service and His glory. He prayed God would keep us safe from the evil one as we travel through this world below. He asked God to teach us His word and to make us holy by His truth. He prayed that we would all be one. Just as Jesus was in the Father, and the Father was in Jesus, Christ prayed that we also would be in unity with them so that the world would believe God sent Him. The level of unity we display with others is a reflective display of the unity we have with Jesus and the Father.
Application: The prayer Jesus prayed for all who would ever come to know Him was central in theme throughout its entirety. Unity. Christ Himself was one with the Father, The Father was in Christ and Christ was in the Father. Christ prayed His followers would experience the same level of love and commitment toward one another as Jesus had experienced with the Father. Jesus always unified His followers as He separated them from the world. He drew them out of the world and its corrupt religious systems and brought them together as a family fitly formed with unity. Christ did not pray for us to be in unity with all things, nor all people. He specifically prayed we would be in unity together with the Father and The Son. He prayed we would be made holy by His word, He asked God to teach us His word because His word is truth.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Your word. Thank You for the prayer that Jesus prayed for me. Help me understand the responsibility I’ve been given to be in unity with Christ and with my fellow brothers and sisters. Use me as a vessel that honors You Lord and help me proclaim the truth of Your word which results in holiness. In Jesus name, Amen!