My Best Friend's Prayer

To me, one of the most beautiful passages of the scriptures is John 17.  When I read it again today my heart skipped a beat.  Oh, how God truly cares.  He cares for me...for you...for His Bride.   

To have the eternal God pray over His people is, to me, one of the most incredible acts of love He could do, (apart from dying and then rising again to give us eternal life).  It also shows, yet again, in the scriptures the oneness of God.  And although it need no affirmation, it also tells me how disciplined He was.

John 17:4  For I am glorified in thee on the earth:  I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

Jesus was no slacker. He finished His mission.

Which leads me to question #1: Am I doing the work He gave me to do?
This leads to question #2: If I knew how long I had left, how the more passionate would I be about the work He's given me to do?
Question #3: Am I truly glorifying God, quickly tossing whatever praise I receive back to the Father that gave the work...the blessing...the gift, to me?

In my opinion, there sometimes can be too much self-gratification in our midst. We should always give the praise and honor to God.  We can do nothing apart from Him.  Whatever gifts we possess it's because He's been the giver of them. We are nothing.  He is everything. 

John 17:9  I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine

Since scripture is eternal, I can read this today and apply it to my own life right here in the 21st century .  What an awesome thought it is to know that the God of the Universe prays for me and calls me, His.  Reading this chapter brings wonder to my heart and tears to my eyes.  Our God cares!

John 17:11 Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou has given me, that they may be one, as we are.

There it is.  The oneness of God. Ohhh I am soooo thankful!  I'm thankful to know that there is only one that I can petition with any need I may have.  There is no need for me to pray unto any other.  There is one God and He has the most powerful name -- JESUS!  Jesus is His name. 

John 17:26  And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

There is no greater LOVE than this.  Salvation. 

There is no greater Love,
No, there is no greater Love.
There is no greater Love,
No greater Love/
Than that a Man would lay down His life for a friend.