Next Steps

For Holiness

Read John 17:17–19.

As Christ is in the garden praying for all believers, he begins to pray that they would be sanctified or made holy. Many of us struggle with the idea of being sanctified. At its most basic level, it means that we are set apart for service to God.

That is always the way with God. He sets his people apart to do his work in the world. But to be set apart means that we would be different from the world around us. As Christians, we often put emphasis on salvation as a moment in time. We can forget that the work of salvation happened and continues to happen in us every day until we are with the Lord. It is a miracle that he has saved us. Every day, he transforms our hearts from the desire to find satisfaction in sin to delighting in obedience to his will.

Sanctification is not something we are comfortable with because it means little by little, we are less like our lost selves, and little by little, we are more like God.

Prayer:

Father, we praise you for the salvation you freely Give us in christ. We praise you for the Gift of the holy spirit who is working inside us, giving us the desire to do what is right. Father, help us not to be afraid to be united with you and your work on the cross. Help us not be afraid to be committed to your will and obedient to your desires. Help us live out the sacred duties you have called us to do every day. Help us live as a people who have been set apart not to serve our own interests but to be your hands and feet to a lost and dying world. Be with us always. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

For Persecuted Believers

Read John 17:6–12

In January of 2021, Open Doors released their annual persecuted church watch list. They found that, within a one-year reporting period, more than 340 million Christians were living in countries where they might suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination because of their faith. Open Doors’ research identified that, during the reporting period, 4,761 Christians were killed for their faith, 4,488 churches or Christian buildings were attacked, 4,277 Christians were unjustly arrested, detained, or imprisoned, and 1,710 Christians were abducted for faith-related reasons. On average, every day, 13 Christians are killed for their faith, 12 churches or Christian buildings are attacked, 12 Christians are unjustly arrested, detained, or imprisoned, and five Christians are abducted for faith-related reasons.

In John 17, Christ prays for his believers. Specifically, he prays that they would be kept safe. Christ knows persecution is likely, and he is actually about to be killed. He does not pray that Christians would be great by worldly standards, even with this knowledge. He does not ask for them to have the political influence to topple nations. He prays that they might be kept from sin, strengthened for their duty, and brought safely to heaven. He did not pray that his disciples should be removed out of the world, that they might escape the rage of men. He prayed that the Father would keep them from evil. They are not left here to pursue the same objects as the men around them but to glorify God and serve their generation. (Matthew Henry Commentary)

Today we will Join Christ in praying for believers suffering for their faith.

Prayer:

Father, we lift our brothers and sisters up. You have called us to go into the world, and often the world does not immediately embrace your message. So many of our numbers are suffering because of it. In spite of that suffering. I pray that none of us would lose sight of the hope you give. I pray that you would make us brave and, through your spirit, assure us that what we gain is far greater than anything we could ever lose. I pray that even in the most difficult situations, we would fearlessly tell others about Christ. Father, keep us from evil and help us to never tire of doing good. Be with us every moment and set our hearts on heaven. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

For the Lost

Read John 17:1–5

During the pandemic, it felt like the whole world shut down. At first, it seemed manageable, but soon days turned to weeks, and weeks turned to months, and months turned to years. When the world forces you to look inward, it is easy to forget that you are part of something greater. Not just your circle and community, but the brotherhood of humanity. Those created in the image of God.

As we continue to pray to reconnect, we are looking out to the world, reconnecting with God’s people everywhere, and with God’s great commission, which was to go into all the world. This week we are exploring these prayers by following the prayer of Christ found in John 17.

The very first thing Christ addresses is that he is about to glorify the Father. He is saying that God granted him the authority to give eternal life. But he then describes the secret to eternal life in John 17:3 This is eternal life: That they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

That is our first prayer this week. We are praying for the lost. Not just friends and family by name but those you don’t know. Everyone. Today we are praying that God would be Glorified in their lives through the work of Christ and the eternal life he gives, and they would know you.

Prayer:

Father, we lift up the lost to you. We know that you desire all men would be saved, and we pray for that to happen in their lives. We ask you to gift them with faith and that any confusion or fallacies keeping them from knowing the truth or experiencing salvation would be overcome. We pray that you would guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Help us to be sensitive to your Holy Spirit concerning them. When we speak to them, help us speak your words and truth. We ask that you help us show them the same grace, love, and forgiveness that you have shown us. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Commitment To Love

Read Romans 12:9–21

This week, we learned that relationships are important to God’s design. Friendships, community, families, husbands, and wives are among the greatest gifts God gives us, but they can also be the most difficult things because they require so much. We also learned that scripture teaches how to love and be loved by others. And when we fail or experience disappointment, forgiveness is the key to getting back up and moving forward.

As we close the week, Romans 12 shows us what love looks like in action. Today, spend time meditating on what it means to be devoted to one another in love.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for this week. There were some challenging things you brought to the surface. Please continue to work on our hearts in those areas. Thank you for the friendships you have given us. Thank you for relationships that challenge us to be more like you. Thank you for the gift of love. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Forgiveness

Read Colossians 3:12–17 and Isaiah 61:3.

We have been focusing on reconnecting with friends and family this week. We recognize that relationships are hard because they require so much of us to be successful — things like sacrifice, love, trust, vulnerability. All those things can be scary, especially when we have done those things for others and they did not reciprocate those actions.

Instead of being loved, we may have been rejected. Instead of being cared for, we were hurt by the very people that said they would never do that. Sometimes we are taken advantage of and tossed aside. All of those things happen. It can be devastating when we experience them, and they may leave us broken for a long time.

Because those things are common and difficult experiences, there is one spiritual discipline we must master both as receivers and givers. That discipline is forgiveness.

Forgiveness acknowledges the truth of the situation. It brings the hidden things to light. But then it does something special. It acknowledges the truth of the situation and says, “I will no longer be controlled or defined by that moment.” Forgiveness allows you to redefine the role that hurt will play in your life. Isaiah paints a beautiful picture, saying that all those who grieve can be given beauty for ashes, blessings for mourning, and praise instead of despair. That is the power of forgiveness. It provides a way forward.

Prayer:

Father, today we give you all the brokenness of our hearts. You can give blessings for brokenness. Help us receive those blessings. Help us not be afraid to pursue relationships and heal the broken things in our hearts. Thank you also for forgiving us. Renew in us the joy of that salvation. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.