Daily Devotional

I have been thinking about how important it is that Jesus is seated at the Father’s right hand, continually interceding for us. Prayer was a key component of Jesus’ ministry to His disciples.  He continually prayed for them. In John 17, Jesus prays, “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word.” (John 17:20) The Lord’s intercession extends to everyone who would believe, as a result of, the disciples spreading of the gospel to the ends of the earth.  Jesus lives today to intercede for us and it is essential for our daily walk with Him. The writer of Hebrews tells us “…He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25) The Lord’s continual intercession for us guarantees the assurance of our salvation.  It also counters any charge or accusation that may be made against us. Christ’s death provided forgiveness for all our sins, guilt, and failures. Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us” (Romans 8:34). His intercession guarantees that nothing will be able to separate us from the love of Christ.

Jesus prayed specifically for His disciples and for us that we would experience unity…

Jesus desired that the disciples would experience the same unity that He enjoyed with the Father.  “And I am no more in the world, and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one, even as We are.” (John 17:11) Christ wants His children to experience unity because through this the world will know that the Father sent Him into the world.
 
Unity grows out of loving God with our whole hearts and unconditionally loving people with God’s love.  Today the world needs to see this kind of unity and not division.  This unity is not experienced by the world and when they see it among believers, it will attract them toward Christ.  Jesus does not want us to be trapped in the sin of strife, jealousy, bickering, and division.

Jesus prayed specifically for His disciples and for us that we would be kept safe…
 
The god of this world is an intimidating enemy.  Jesus prayed that the disciples would be protected from this evil one who is seeking to destroy them and the cause of Christ.  Jesus prays, “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.” (John 17:15) Satan is malignantly evil in that he wants to destroy everyone he can.  He often paralyzes believers from acting through fear.  Peter spoke of Satan as being, “Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8) As the lion roars to scare its prey, Satan roars to scare believers into inactivity.  Timothy was afraid to be bold for Christ.  Paul told Timothy not to fear, “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”  (2 Timothy 1:7) Even with the power of the evil one, Jesus asked the Father specifically to, “keep them from the evil one…”  This conveys the idea of watchful protection.  The word for “keep” is a military term meaning to guard or protect against external attack.  What assurance and comfort it brings to know that the Lord will protect us from anything the evil one will try to do. Satan’s objective is to steal, kill and destroy.  (John 10:10) Jesus’ intercessions show that He is always there and will never leave His children unprotected.

Jesus prayed specifically for His disciples and for us that we would be holy…
 
Sanctification has the root idea of holiness. God has set apart His children for a holy purpose.  When Jesus left this world, He left His disciples in the world. He knew that the world was polluted with sin and that this pollution would try to destroy their lives. He prayed, “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.”  (John 17:15–17)  Jesus’ prayer asked the Father to keep the disciples from that which would pollute their lives and destroy them morally and spiritually.

I am so thankful that Jesus is praying today for each of us. As He prays for our unity, protection, and holiness, I desire for Him to do this in my life. I want to live each day walking in unity with God’s children and in purity, knowing that I am protected by Him.

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for knowing my life and continually interceding on my behalf. I need your help to walk in unity with my brothers and sisters in Christ so that people will be attracted toward you. As I live in this world, I don’t want my life to be polluted by it. Help me to walk in purity and thank you for your protection each moment of the day. Amen.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.