The Lutheran Seminary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Friday, 15 May 2015 "God Pause Daily Devotion" Scripture: John 17:6-19

The Lutheran Seminary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Friday, 15 May 2015 "God Pause Daily Devotion" Scripture: John 17:6 “I made your name known to the people you gave me out of the world. They were yours, you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me is from you, 8 because the words you gave me I have given to them, and they have received them. They have really come to know that I came from you, and they have come to trust that you sent me.

9 “I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given to me, because they are yours. 10 Indeed, all I have is yours, and all you have is mine, and in them I have been glorified. 11 Now I am no longer in the world. They are in the world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, guard them by the power of your name, which you have given to me, so that they may be one, just as we are. 12 When I was with them, I guarded them by the power of your name, which you have given to me; yes, I kept watch over them; and not one of them was destroyed (except the one meant for destruction, so that the Tanakh might be fulfilled). 13 But now, I am coming to you; and I say these things while I am still in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves.

14 “I have given them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world — just as I myself do not belong to the world. 15 I don’t ask you to take them out of the world, but to protect them from the Evil One. 16 They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 17 Set them apart for holiness by means of the truth — your word is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 On their behalf I am setting myself apart for holiness, so that they too may be set apart for holiness by means of the truth.[Complete Jewish Bible]

As we noted in yesterday's devotion, it is appropriate to "listen in" and meditate on Jesus' words as he prays for his disciples then and now. In his prayer Jesus pleads with the Father:
that they might be ONE—"as we are one" (v. 11). Those words say it all for us—that we are to be one in love, mercy and mission with God and God's Son, Jesus the Christ.
that they might have JOY—"so they may have my joy made complete in themselves"(v. 13). Jesus asks that we might have the same joy that he had in knowing that he was now to fulfill the will of the Father in his suffering, death and resurrection.
that they might have PROTECTION—"I ask you to protect them from the evil one" (v. 15).
Jesus is concerned that all disciples present and future be kept and guarded in their lives in the world.
that they be SENT into the world—"As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world"(v.18). Jesus mission is now becoming the disciples' mission; it is our mission today.
Grant us oneness, joy, and protection, O God, so that we may be faithful as your “sent ones” in our world today. Amen
Kenneth N. Melby
John 17:6 "I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.
7 Now they know that everything you have given me is from you;
8 for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.
9 I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours.
10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them.
11 And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.
12 While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled.
13 But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves.
14 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.
15 I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one.
16 They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.
17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
18 As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.[New Revised Standard Version]
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