Page 10 - Living Light Spring 2024

Wednesday March 6 - Unity and community “...protect them... so that they may be one as we are one.” John 17:11
The disciples were the beginning of God’s new community, the Church – not the beginning of a new disunity! Sent to turn people to the Kingdom ways of Jesus, they were called to multiplication, not division. They were told they must ‘love one another’ as Jesus loved them, so the world would know they were his disciples (John 13:34-35).
So Jesus prayed for protection “so that they may be one as we are one”. His prayer focused on two dangerous enemies: one, the world and its ways, the other the devil and his ways. Both want to rule. Called ‘the evil one’ (v 15), one of the devil’s ways to achieve dominance is to divide God’s people. Even that night, shortly before Jesus’ prayer, a dispute arose among his disciples as to which of them was the greatest, and Jesus had to teach them that the way of the Kingdom is the way of service, sacrifice, and mutual love – the way of the Cross.
Of course, sometimes we need to take a stand on an issue, a stand which might lead to division. But we do this based on the truth of Scripture, and with love for those with whom we disagree. Jesus stood for the truth his Father had given him (vv 8,17), and shared the Father’s love for the world (John 3:16). Let their relationship be our model: unity and community, truth and love.
Father, please protect us, that the world may know we are Jesus’ disciples. Amen.
Thursday March 7 - Like Master, like disciple
“I have given them your word and the world has hated them...” John 17:14
Mariano encountered hateful opposition as he brought his new-found Christian faith into a hostile environment. He prayed, persevered, founded churches, changed the spiritual atmosphere, and mentored a young man who, after Mariano’s passing, is now his people’s bishop.
Mariano knew what it was to be hated, and understood that he was in a spiritual conflict. He took courage in knowing Jesus was hated too and that Jesus’ followers had to take their share of suffering on his behalf. Jesus’ disciples would become, like him, the hated of the world. He’d reminded them that “it hated me first... you do not belong to the world... That is why the world hates you... No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:18-20).
Like Mariano in a previous generation, so many Christians today are hated because of the Word Jesus has given them, as our text indicates. The person and teaching of Jesus, the Kingdom values he proclaims and the gospel of liberation his teaching embraces – these challenge and shake entrenched viewpoints and attitudes – personal, corporate, local, national, international.
I’ve recently attended conferences and heard stories of God’s word breaking barriers of scepticism and opposition among disadvantaged people locally and far afield. Jesus prayed for his disciples. Jesus prays for his people today. Let’s join him in prayer and action – but not be surprised when we’re opposed.
Father, we ask you to break through those barriers and replace hatred with your abounding love. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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PRAYER FOR TODAY