Sometimes I am amazed at how applicable (and, frankly, how profoundly important) something is in my circumstances that I accidentally run across. It felt that was last week as I prepared for our Sunday worship service. I had chosen to utilize John 17 as the text for three weeks of our focus on Prayer. This particular prayer of Jesus was the one He prayed in earshot of His disciples just briefly before He was arrested, which lead to His execution, which was overcome by His resurrection. This circumstances of this prayer demand that it must have been critically important.
I was struck by how applicable and important the content of Jesus prayer is to our circumstances with Quest right now. He prayed for four primary things:
1. Unity (He called it oneness)
2. Joy (His joy made full in us)
3. Protection from the evil one (the schemes of the world and the author of evil)
4. Sanctification in Truth (that we would be set aside for a holy purpose based on the truth of who God is and the truths that guide our identity and activities)
I can’t emphasize enough how much we need to embrace these things in our own lives and in the life of our church. Our unity will be challenged, and yet strengthened, by this season of change. Our joy could be stolen, yet we can find joy in all the gracious things God is doing in the midst of change. There will be plenty of opportunities for the evil one to twist, upset and destroy the things God wants to do in us and through us as we navigate all the changes. And last but not least, we need to live by faith in the truths that define and empower us to live well in the middle of all the things going on around us.
So… therefore… what now? I would like to encourage you to do two things:
1. Pray for these four things… unity, joy, schemes of the evil one and living by truth so that we can be used for a divine purpose. Really pray! Without prayer, these foundational elements of our lives will not be established. We need to pray for, and with, one another concerning these things.
2. Make a commitment to value and live out these things… choose unity over your own preferences, choose joy over being critical, say no to the schemes of the evil one, embrace God’s truths about you and those around you. Be an encouragement, be a blessing, be a light, be a help, be honest, be humble, be alert, be strong, be all that Christ wants to be through you.
Bottom line… pray! Pray with all of your heart in line with the heart of Christ revealed in John 17!!!
Your bro,
Kevin