May 17, 2015
Sunday

“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one.” John 17:14 – 15

“And what does he pray for? Not that it will be easy. He knows it won’t. This world is captive to a spirit alien to God’s spirit. It is animated by a sense of scarcity instead of abundance, fear instead of courage, and selfishness instead of sacrificial love. Jesus — the one who came to bring abundant life, does not run away in the face of danger, and lays down his life for the sheep — offers an alternative spirit and reality. This is the reason the world (kosmos — John’s word of choice for the spirit and power that is hostile to God’s good intention to love and redeem all) hates Jesus and will hate those who follow him. So Jesus doesn’t pray that it will be easy, but rather that God will support the disciples amid their challenges and that they will be one in fellowship with each other and with Jesus and the Father through the Spirit.” David Lose, “Dear Working Preacher”, Commentary “The Other Lord’s Prayer”

This devotion is really a continuation of the devotion from May 15 – where I spoke about unity. the text is from a part of the prayer Jesus prayed for his disciples of all time and space. He not only prayed for their unity, but he prayed that they remain in the work of the church, even though it was going to be very difficult, but with the help from the Father through the Holy Spirit while they remain in the world. We all know an experience where we found ourselves in a difficult place, and wished we might be able to be lifted out of the experience because it was very uncomfortable. But if we found ourselves in the experience, and getting through the experience, we may have found that we were stronger for persevering through to the end. Jesus agreed that the experience would be strengthening, but he also prayed that the Father not forget us while we are going through the difficult time.

Just this past week my wife and I found ourselves in such an experience. We were called to Maine because my wife’s father had experienced a medical emergency. We travelled to Maine knowing that our presence was required, but also knowing that there were many difficult family dynamics present – and some of them very, very difficult. We managed to be present for her father and to help with some decisions regarding his health and care, but there were family members who presented a real challenge. And even though we experienced some difficult family dynamics, we also felt a true protection from our heavenly Father, sustained by the Holy Spirit. We were able to stand firm and offer the presence he needed.

Jesus prayed for you and me, that the Father would protect us from the evil one. With this knowledge, let us go forth each day knowing that through the Holy Spirit, we should always remain mindful of the Father’s protection.

Pastor Dave