Devotional -

Jesus' Prayer for Us ( 21 April )

Father! Give me glory in your presence now, the same glory I had with you before the world was made. . . . Holy Father! Keep them safe by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one just as you and I are one. . . . I do not ask you to take them out of the world, but I do ask you to keep them safe from the Evil One. . . . Dedicate them to yourself by means of the truth; your word is truth. . . . I pray not only for them, but also for those who believe in me because of their message. I pray that they may all be one. Father! May they be in us, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they be one, so that the world will believe that you sent me.
John 17: 5, 11, 15, 17, 20-21

There is great encouragement in the way Jesus prayed for his disciples and for us. It even provides us with guidance how to live the life he desires for us. Were it not for Jesus' intercessory prayer, we wouldn't be able to continue living a life of faith in this dark world. The god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelieving.

We really need to hear such words today so that our faith might be strengthened and our relationship with Jesus fortified. The Lord Jesus prayed for his disciples and for those who continue to follow him today. He prayed to keep the believers safe from Satan's power, to sanctify and unite them.

God has revealed to us the eternal life that comes through his son Jesus Christ. When we confess our sins and repent, the love of Christ becomes alive in us.

When Jesus was addressing his disciples on that night, his life on earth was about to come to an end. He asked to be restored to his original place with God the Father after his resurrection and ascension.

Jesus prayed that he would be glorified in the life of his disciples. Is Jesus glorified in us? Does he rejoice in our lives? Jesus prayed that the believers would be one as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one. Let us pray like Jesus did, longing to be united in his Spirit.

"The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life-life in all its fullness." (John 10:10) The devil seeks to snatch us from the Lord's hands. But Jesus holds us firmly and will give us abundant life, now and into eternity.

- 21 APRIL -