JOHN 17:20-26

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2007

THE PRAYER OF JESUS - PART 3 - HE PRAYS FOR ALL BELIEVERS

20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” St. John 17:20-26 (NKJV)

Do you remember these words of Jesus, “Before Abraham was, I AM.” These words were important at the time and place where Jesus spoke them and understanding them is important to getting the full meaning from these verses. Throughout this 17th Chapter, Jesus refers to His Eternal Being, His Oneness with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, the Triune God. If we read this as just a man saying this, then we miss the importance of these Words of Jesus. 22 “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”

Think about these words. God wants us to be just like Him. This is what Jesus is praying for when He prays for you and me in these verses. Not only that, but He wants us to be where He is and to share in His Glory.

Maybe the most important part of this prayer for you and for me is found where Jesus says, “that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”

Jesus is not just praying for the daily things of life. Yes, God hears our daily prayers for health, for comfort in times of sorrow, for relief from the troubles of the world and all of the other requests that we feel are so important. Jesus is praying that you and I will choose to Follow Him to eternity where we will be made perfect. This is not just perfect in terms of our bodies, but it is perfect, to not have a single care or worry to blemish our happiness.

Now that is something that we don’t often pray for. We pay attention when Jesus teaches us to pray, “Our Father, who art in Heaven” and we pray it over and over again. Maybe we should listen more carefully to this prayer for us and over and over again pray,

WE PRAY: Lord lead me and guide me each day until I arrive in your Heavenly Home where I will be made perfect, where I will live in your Glory and where I will be one with You. AMEN.

A SUGGESTION FOR LIVING THE DEVOTION

Each time that you pray for God to respond to a need in your life, remind yourself that when you are made perfect in Heaven you will no longer have these needs.