Jesus’ Prayer
I love hearing people pray who have a deep and intimate relationship with the Lord. Their prayers are not just beautiful – they are real and blunt. I think the Lord loves it when I pray boldly.
I came across this prayer of Jesus this morning that really blessed my soul. He is praying for His disciples because of what is next. He’s also praying for His disciples because He’s counting on them to spread the message that He delivered. Check this out….
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.
22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 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. 24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! (John 17-24 NLT)
I feel like Jesus just prayed for me. I am a disciple who believed because of the message of this first generation of disciples. I want to continue bring this message of love and hope through unity. This unity can exist today. I have to be patient and understanding with others who believe in Jesus just like I believe in Jesus. I need to be in agreement with other churches who teach Jesus as Lord. I need to be careful not to maximize our differences but to celebrate what we agree upon – Jesus is Lord of all!
It feels like that churches are in competition with one another to be bigger and more influential than the other churches. I think we should all simply teach the message of Jesus to the community where we are located. I think we should use whatever platform we have to life Him up and make Him famous. I want others to see Jesus in me by the way I live more than the words I speak. I want the grace that the Lord has given me to come out in every area of my being. I want Jesus to be seen in me today and every day!
Pressing On!
Dwayne