Bible Society of South Africa
Hennie Symington

Prayer – Day 7

On Christ’s prayer request list

Bible text(s)

John 17

6“I have made you known to those you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me. They have obeyed your word,

John 17

20“I pray not only for them, but also for those who believe in me because of their message. 21I pray that they may all be one. Father! May they be in us, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they be one, so that the world will believe that you sent me.

John 17:20-21GNBOpen in Bible reader

Do you realise that you’ve been on Christ’s prayer request list long before your birth? In the week before Christ was crucified, he was in constant conversation with his Father. It was as if he was driven to put everything in order before leaving the world.

In John 17 we read this deeply moving conversation between God and his Son. It’s almost as if Christ is reporting back to his Father about what he achieved during his time on earth. He had completed his assignment. He brought the Word to the people and they believed, and now he was ready to return from where he came.

Yet, he is deeply troubled about leaving his followers behind in this world and therefore prays intently for God to watch over them. Then he prays for you and everyone who will come to faith through the witness of the first disciples. He prays that we will be one in him and with all believers yet to come.

How wonderful to know that God has already seen us in his mind’s eye even before we were born. And even more amazing is that Christ has already commended you to God before you even knew him. Incredible? No, just God’s goodness.

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