From: May 28, 2023
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.” (John 17:20 NLT).
Jesus prayed for those that would “ever believe” in Him. That includes us! The prayer found in Matthew 6 that begins “Our Father” is referred to as “The Lord’s Prayer,” but really it is the Lord’s model prayer. For He gave the prayer as a teaching example of how to pray. The prayer found in John 17 is the best insight into the Lord Jesus actually praying. This is how He poured out His heart to the Father. He prayed specifically for us that we would be one with one another and with God. He prayed for our protection from the evil one. He prayed for us to experience His glory. And most of all, He prayed that we would believe the gospel preached by His disciples.
We know that the Lord Jesus isn’t finished praying for us. He sits at the right of the Father continually interceding for those who belong to Him (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25, 1 John 2:1). Jesus prays for us.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we thank You for Jesus. For He is not only our Redeemer and Savior. He is our Advocate and Intercessor. He prayed and still prays for us! Now we pray in His name. Strengthen us by Your Spirit to live for Jesus today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: May 28, 2016
Psalm 119 is an acrostic poem written in celebration of God’s Word. It’s 22 stanzas were based on the Hebrew alphabet and at 176 verses, it is the longest chapter in the Bible. Verse 89 marks the beginning of the “Lamedh” stanza and also stands near the halfway mark of the psalm. It is like a keystone in a beautiful archway, anchoring the Word of God in the heavens. It is wondrous to consider the stars at night, yet God’s Word is more “firmly fixed in the heavens” than any ancient constellation. Why trust an astrological sign when theological revelation is infinitely superior and more clear? The heavens and the earth may pass, but God’s Word will last forever (Matt. 24:35).
From: May 28, 2015
This prayer of Jesus found in John 17 should really be called the Lord’s prayer. The prayer that we call the Lord’s Prayer, might better be called the Model prayer because it was given to teach us how to pray. However, the prayer recorded in John 17 gives us an intimate insight as to how Jesus really prayed. In verse 5, we see Christ’s awareness that He was returning to the Father’s presence to share equal glory with Him, the glory which was His even before the world was created. This prayer was offered before Jesus went to the cross, yet He was already looking past it. As Hebrews 12:2 said, we are to be “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
From: May 28, 2014
Jesus prayed for those that would believe in him both present and future. That includes us! The prayer found in Matthew 6 that begins “Our Father” is referred to as “The Lord’s Prayer,” but really it is the Lord’s model prayer, for he gave the prayer as an example of how to pray. The prayer found here in John 17 is the best insight into the Lord Jesus actually praying. This is how he poured out his heart to the Father. He prayed specifically for us that we would be one with one another and with God. He prayed for our protection from the evil one. He prayed for us to experience his glory. And we know that the Lord Jesus isn’t finished praying for us. He sits at the right of the Father continually interceding for those who belong to him (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25, 1 John 2:1).