Holy Father, guard them as they pursue this life
I’m not asking that you take them out of the world
But that you guard them from the Evil One.
I read the message version this morning. I was having a hard time staying with the NIV.
I like these two lines. I can feel Jesus' empathy towards us. He knows it will be difficult, and he even references the enemy that fights to drag us down. But, in those 2 or 3 lines.....you can clearly see who has the ultimate power, and makes the ultimate decisions of what happens on this earth.
Just like yesterday. I think Jesus is saying these things not only for the benefit of those standing within ear-shot, but also for us. So we could somehow get a glimpse into his mindset at this crucial time.
tp
After reading your comments I went back and read it through the Message. These lines stood out to me in the Message
ReplyDelete20-23ish The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—
Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
So they might be one heart and mind with us.
Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.
In the NIV this is the section where Jesus is praying for all believers. Reading this makes me wonder about where we are today, are we all of one heart and mind in the Christian faith? It feels like there are cracks. The debate in churches about homosexual pastors and beliefs is an obvious one. We should love everyone, we are all sinners none better than the other. But we should also not condone actions the bible tells us are sins. Its tough in society today as people make strong cases against the bible but here I see Jesus wanting us believers to be of one heart and mind to show the world who he is and if we aren't it seems the opposite will happen...no one will come to him.
knut