“Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.” John 17:11b
Where are you God? Why me God?There must be millions of people through the years who have asked these two questions of the Father, and many who don't have satisfactory answers. Maybe you have been one of them.
Many books and stories tell of people who have been disappointed by God's apparent unconcern about a suffering child or a tragic disaster.
Conversely, audiences have been amazed as they have heard the testimony of someone who miraculously was saved from certain suffering or death, because someone, somewhere was praying for them.
But today we aren’t debating an opinion that will make us feel better. Rather we look at these words of Jesus to discover that the Father's deep and heartfelt longing is for his children to love one another, in the tough times as well as the good. Something that is not easy to do!
We find Jesus prays for protection from all evil, be it physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. He knows that Satan's intention is to destroy the Father's Love Message to his world, and will try his utmost to do just that. Jesus prays that we will be protected in the battle.
The Father's purpose is that the victory should be powerfully evident as people observe his love in the lives of followers of The Jesus Way of living and loving.
Let’s Pray…
for our own difficulties in loving others, and asking for forgiveness as we follow the example of Jesus
for St Johns: Give thanks for the love that God has given us, and pray that through the difficulties of recent times we will grow in love, respect and compassion for one another. And also that we would remain in love for our Father who both loves and disciplines us.
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