Today is the 25th day of Lent, a 40 day season of spiritual reflection, repentance, and renewal. During these 40 days we’ll explore the prayer life of Jesus, walking chronologically through every mention of Jesus’ prayer life and prayers in the Gospels.
Here is today’s prayer event: 20″I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:20-21 ESV)
Jesus now turns his prayer thoughts from his immediate disciples to us–to all those who will believe in him through the word of the disciples. Jesus prays for our unity. Specifically, Andreas Kostenberger (ESV Study Bible) writes that Jesus is praying for us to have a “common mind and common purpose.” Jesus is praying for our “togetherness in mission.”
I’d put it this way: Community and Cause. Cause: “that the world may believe…” Community: “that they may all be one…” Community is not an end in itself. It it is a means to an end: the Cause. As we engage in our Cause, we do so in Community. Jesus prays that we will not pursue our Cause as individuals, solo, but as a family.
Yet not only do we purse Cause in Community, Community actually fulfills the Cause. When the world sees true Community which overcomes what humans cannot–racism, sexism, ageism, etc.–it will conclude that this Community is inhuman–it must come from God.
If you attend a congregation regularly, do you pray regularly for that congregation? If not, why not? If you do, how often do you pray about that congregation’s community and cause and the link between the two? Why? Why not?
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I love your second to last paragraph. So true and especially in Memphis. We are not Christians living out the principles of Jesus in Anywhere, USA (as if such place even existed). We are living in a place seriously scarred by racism and in a place where people continue to perpetuate separation especially along socio-economic and political lines. Inconveniently, I do believe intensely that location matters, specifically because in Memphis that separation has followed observable geographic lines.
So, yes, I pray intensely for a Community that will allow God to overcome the separation we see in our city. I wish to be a part of a Community that will be an alternative to what we see in Memphis everyday. I think we have made it harder for ourselves at Highland to be that Community, still Highland is my Community and I am not going anywhere. So I pray that we will work even harder to be what we are really called to be.
I am reminded everyday that I live in two worlds. Contrast my Highland community with my working community at the Med. I AM their *pastor* at the Med – at least for the evening shift. And the social-economical difference I experience is astounding. Personally I feel we (Highland) could do a better job of meeting needs here at the Med. Just recently there was a ministry started at LeBonheur. Being a faith based hospital may make that a more natural fit, but I have wondered “why not the Med?” I mean, I am here every weekday and we certainly could use the volunteers. And I have NO doubt in my mind that Jesus would most likely hang out at this hospital. It definitely has the most need. Anyway, not to rant, but “Yes” I do pray for the folks here, just not as much as I should. And I shall begin to pray more for Highland. “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.”
And Jason, I struggled too with the move eastward instead of standing pat or moving westward. My prayer is that Highland will NEVER forget our obligation to the poor of our community NO MATTER where we are located.
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