“But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 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. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.” ~ John 17:13-23
Jesus prayed to the Father for His disciples and for everyone who believes in Him through the disciples. That’s all of us believers. The disciples spread the Word to others who spread the Word to others who spread the Word—around the world and down through generations and years. Jesus prayed that we would all be one with Him and the Father, that we would be sanctified in the truth (the Word of God), and that we would be protected against the evil one. He warned us that the world would hate us, but through our unity with the Godhead the world will know that Jesus was sent by God and loves us. Are we living our lives to show the truth of the Word to the world?
Heavenly Father, thank You that I can be united with You and the Son. Empower me by the Holy Spirit to live my life in such a way that people see Jesus in me. In His name. Amen.
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