Discover His heart: He is praying for us
I can’t begin to imagine how strange it would feel to find out that the leader of my nation was thinking about me right now, talking with his staff about my life and possibly about the challenges I’m facing. Of course, the leaders of most countries have a general concern for the welfare of their constituents, the people who vote for them, but I’m talking about my leader zeroing in on little old me with his thoughts and concerns. For this, I am not holding my breath, but it’s a fascinating notion. It would be humbling, and actually frightening, to think that anyone with power and prestige would focus on me. However…
@ John 17
“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.” (20-21) Forget presidents and powerful leaders! This is astounding to me! Jesus, the Son of God, present at creation, seated at the right hand of God the Father is thinking about me, and He is praying for me. He is concerned about my welfare – and He is someone who can actually do something about it.
In His prayer, Jesus first prayed for His disciples who had followed Him while He was on earth, but added, “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me.” As His followers and disciples today, we, too, are included in His prayer. The prayer Jesus offered to God for us in Chapter 17 was not a multipurpose “God bless, so and so,” etc. No, He had specific requests in mind.
Jesus prayed for our protection. “I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do.” (14-16) What in this world do we have to fear with Jesus praying for our protection?
Jesus prayed for holiness. “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.” (17-19) Jesus paid a great price for our holiness. How could we ever trade it or dirty it for the pleasures of this world? His truth sets us free from all that.
Jesus prayed for our unity. “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.” (22-23) He has given us the glory of God, the revelation of who God is, by revealing Himself to us. This is our common bond, our unity.
As the body of Christ, we may differ in style of worship or formality, but we should let nothing we do hinder or damage our message of Christ crucified so that the world will know that God loves them. How could we do anything to impede God’s perfect plan to save a lost world?
Jesus is praying for us! “Sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.” (Romans 8:34) “He lives forever to intercede with God on [our] behalf.” (Hebrews 7:25) No matter what we’re facing today, perhaps feeling like no one cares enough to even pray for us, we can be assured that Jesus cares. He is thinking about us, talking to God about us, zeroing in on us and praying for us. So very humbling.
Moving Forward: One of my favorite songs, “He’s ever interceding to the Father for His children…Through Him you can reach the Father so bring Him all your heavy burdens…” (C. Gillman)
Tomorrow @ Philemon
Phyllis Benigas 