基督為教會禱告
約翰福音十七章20至26節
20我不但為這些人祈求，也為那些因他們的話信我的人祈求，
21使他們都合而為一。正如你父在我裡面，我在你裡面，使他們也在我們裡面，叫世人可以信你差了我來。
22你所賜給我的榮耀，我已賜給他們，使他們合而為一，像我們合而為一。
23我在他們裡面，你在我裡面，使他們完完全全的合而為一，叫世人知道你差了我來，也知道你愛他們如同愛我一樣。
24父阿，我在那裡，願你所賜給我的人也同我在那裡，叫他們看見你所賜給我的榮耀；因為創立世界以前，你已經愛我了。
25公義的父阿，世人未曾認識你，我卻認識你；這些人也知道你差了我來。
26我已將你的名指示他們，還要指示他們，使你所愛我的愛在他們裡面，我也在他們裡面。
信息分享
當基督禱告的時候，祂除了想著當時的門徒外，心中還有你和我。請留意第20節：「也為那些因他們[門徒]信我的人祈求。」祂特別提到我們，究竟要為我們求些甚麼呢？祂祈求神保守我們與祂緊緊結連一起，與祂合而為一。這個禱告究竟有沒有在我們的生命中，以及在我們的教會中應驗呢？
一個妨礙人信主的最大障礙，是基督徒中間出現紛爭和互相攻擊。基督徒之間的彼此相爭和怨憤，實在是令人感到震驚和可怕的。難怪世人會質疑信仰是否真的能改變人，以及信仰是否真的能帶來人生的意義。
惟有信徒之間能夠彼此相愛，以行動來證明我們在基督裡已合而為一，世人才會較容易相信，耶穌基督真的能夠改變我們的生命。
基督今天依然這樣為我們祈求。雖則在回到榮耀的天家之前，我們很難與每個信徒都意見一致；然而，即使有意見分歧，我們仍可以與其他信徒彼此相愛，在世人面前見證信徒和教會的合一。
基督豈不是說過：「你們若有彼此相愛的心，眾人因此就認出你們是我的門徒了。」(約十三35)
禱告：
「親愛的主耶穌，求你幫助我們懂得彼此相愛，以致別人能認出我們是你的門徒。」
CHRIST PRAYING FOR THE CHURCH
John 17: 20 - 26
20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;
21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:
23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.
26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
Message
Christ had you and me in mind as well as his disciples when he prayed this prayer. Notice verse 20 - 'For them who will believe on me through their [the disciples] word'. What did he particularly pray for when he mentioned us? He asked that we might be wonderfully united in him. How far has that prayer been allowed to be answered in my life and yours? In my church and in yours?
One of the biggest hindrances to people coming to believe in Jesus Christ is quarrelling, critical Christians. It is amazing, even frightening, the way Christians can fight with one another and how angry they can become. No wonder the world questions if there is anything worthwhile in being a Christian or whether it has made any real difference or not.
When we show our love for each other; when we show we belong to each other and are one in Christ, then the world will more readily believe that Jesus Christ has really done something on our lives.
Christ is still praying the same way. We will never all agree with each other until we get home to glory, but we can love one another and let the church and the world see that we do.
What did Christ say? 'By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another' John 13: 35.
A PRAYER FOR TODAY:
'Lord Jesus let your love for my fellow-Christians be seen in my life today and every day.'