The Power of One
Opening Prayer
Lord, give me wisdom and strength from Your Spirit so that I may discern the needs of others and lift them up in prayer.
Read John 17:20-26
[20] “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, [21] that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. [22] I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one- [23] I in them and you in me-so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. [24] “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. [25] “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. [26] I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Consider how Jesus prayed for others, even us.This is no ordinary moment! A divine drama is unfolding. Soon, heaven and earth will be shaking under the influence of the purposes of God. As Jesus continues to embrace his journey to the cross, he prays with exceptional clarity and fervor. In this final phase of his prayer, Jesus turns his attention away from his immediate followers and begins to pray for all future followers (20). His overriding request is for unity and for the world to see the nature of God’s love and intentions through the display of harmony and oneness among his followers. Basically, if you see unity, you see Christ … and if you see Christ, you see God (23)! Theologian N. T. Wright in John for Everyone writes of Jesus’ prayer: “It is about the love of the Father surrounding Jesus, and this same love, as a bond and badge, surrounding all Jesus’ people, making him present to them and through them to the world.” We need to remember Jesus’ prayer and appreciate more fully why unity is absolutely central to the heartbeat of God.
Apply
Jesus is actually praying about us. Let the reality of that warm your heart. How does that make you want to respond?
Closing prayer
Father, as Jesus prayed for me, fill me with Your Spirit. I need to rely on Your fullness in me as I live in this troubled world.
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