The Lord’s Prayer

Today was a follow up appointment with my cardiologist. I am feeling good so not too much other a routine checkup following my recent hospitalization. While at the McKee Medical building we saw Dr. Golden who was one of the intensivists at McKee Hospital when I was admitted last July. It was good to say hello and for him to see my progress. Yesterday must have been more tiring than I realized. It seems today is turning into somewhat of a “recovery” day for me.

However, that will not stop me from our big event for the evening, which is attending my first Colorado Rockies game of the season. Debbie received some tickets from her work for a suite at Coors field. Now that I am not an elected official I can go along without breaking any laws!

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “This is eternal life: to know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom you sent.”  John 17:3

John 17 contains what is viewed as the “true Lord’s Prayer.” The “Lord’s Prayer” as we have recited it over the years is what Jesus taught His disciples to pray. It is the “Lord’s prayer” that he gave His disciples to pray. John 17 contains Jesus prayer as He prepared to go to the cross.

It is one of the few recorded prayers of Jesus and each verse reveals Jesus relationship with the Father, His desire for His disciples and for all those who would believe the gospel message throughout time.  “…I’m also praying for those who will believe in me through their message.” John 17:20

I find Jesus declaration of “eternal life” in verse 3 insightful in light of my readings in Ezekiel and Jeremiah. As the Lord promised to return His people from captivity His consistent declaration was, “then they will know me.”  God‘s greatest purpose for our life is not to just know about Him, but to know Him in a personal relationship; to have Him as the foundation of our lives.

Some of the specific requests that I observe in Jesus prayer for His followers include the following:

v. 11 – “…keep them safe by the power of your name…so that their unity may be like ours.”

This seems to be in reference to keeping true to the faith and committed to the Lord’s will and purpose.

v. 15 – “…protect them from the evil one.”

Jesus makes it clear we have a spiritual enemy that requires us to be on guard. On one occasion Jesus told Peter, “Satan has desired to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith fail not.”  Luke 22:31

v. 17 –  “Use the truth to make them holy. Your words are truth.”

What keeps Jesus followers “set apart” is adherence to His truth and obedience to Him. It is the demonstration of our love for Christ. John 14:15

v. 21 – “…I pray that they may be united with us so that the world will believe that you have sent me.”

Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you have love one for another.” John 13:35  True unity is only possible through unity with Christ. You can look at all the world’s system and will come up short when it comes to true unity. Factions, splinter groups, disagreements are common to human efforts.

v. 24 – “Father, I want those you have given to me to be with me, to be where I am….”

This is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan for His creation. He has promised a “new heaven and a new earth, the home of the righteous.” 2 Peter 3:13 The final answer to this prayer is reflected in Revelation 21:3 “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.”

When we agree in prayer with these petitions of Jesus we know that we are praying in accordance to God’s will.