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be one

 


Jesus prayed for us, and one specific occasion is in the prayer recorded in John 17.  Some of these words and thoughts often ring in my head and in my heart.

 

John 17:15-18  NLT

I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do.17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 

 

Do you ever wish God would take us out of this world and send us to heaven?  Well, that is not the plan.  See the last phrase, I am sending them, gives us a great reminder of God’s plan.  We must stay here until it is time, but we stay here so that God’s plan and purpose for us and the world comes together.

 

Take some time to see how you are connected to the world.  Are you like the world?  Does the world seem to love or hate you?  Those answers will help you see where God has you at this point.  We are to be made holy, by God’s doing, as we live by His truth.

 

He prayed for those who followed Him and for all who would come in the future.  I love this.  God is working His plan, and we are part of His plan.

 

John 17:20-21  NLT

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.

 

Jesus prayed that we would be one, together, unified, strengthened and more.  We are like Jesus when we find unity.  We give God glory when we are one.  When we focus on Him, we find unity.  

 

May our lives show we have been with Him and changed by our great and gracious God!


NOTE: much of this devotion was first shared in August of 2019

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