January 14th: That They May Be One
Towards the end of Jesus’ prayer in John 17:9-11, where He prayed that our Heavenly Father would keep [us] (Jn 17:11), which we noted involved keeping us from the “evil one” (Jn 17:15), Jesus prayed they [we] may be one, even as we [He & the Father] are one.” (Jn 17:11).
Jesus reiterated this request later in verses 20-21 when He prayed “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just 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 have sent me.” (Jn 17:20-21).
Essentially, Jesus prayed that God would keep us from the influencing power of the “evil one”, i.e. the devil, in order that we might experience and be able to maintain the unity that we have as believers, through faith in Jesus Christ (see Eph 4:3); as our unity, is a testimony to the power of the gospel, an evangelistic witness to the unbelieving world (Jn 17:21).
As you spend time in prayer today, spend time praying for the members of our Mission Baptist Church and the believers in the greater Pyeongtaek area, that we would experience the unity Christ prayed for, in order that we might serve as faithful witnesses to the Gospel. As you do, pray that God would keep us all from the influence of the “evil one”. Additionally, spend time in reflective prayer, confessing any attitudes or behaviors that might exist in you, leading to disunity.