“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
John 17:15-17 NIV
There are some foundational principles of God that we should all seek: salvation, daily growth in the spirit, service to our Lord, desire for fellowship and evangelism for Christ. These principles are the very foundations Jesus taught his followers so that they were prepared for their life long journey with him. In John, Jesus’ prayer was to protect, to sanctify and teach his followers for their coming ministry for the kingdom.
Following Jesus’ lead, we need to pray as our Lord did for others. We pray first and foremost for their salvation. This is the key to all other principles for their lives, that they belong to Christ first! Secondly, that they grow: in their faith, in the Word, in their hearts for Christ. They would pledge their lives to service for the kingdom, doing the works that are necessary. They should desire to fellowship with other believers, to encourage and be encouraged! Lastly, that they would take the Good News of Christ to their families and their world.
With this plan for all our lives, we can truly gain the blessings of God’s kingdom and plant seed for others to come to know God’s goodness as well. It is a bounty that knows no end and has no limits. Sounds like something worth praying for!
In Christ
RJ