基督为教会祷告
约翰福音十七章20至26节
20我不但为这些人祈求，也为那些因他们的话信我的人祈求，
21使他们都合而为一。正如你父在我里面，我在你里面，使他们也在我们里面，叫世人可以信你差了我来。
22你所赐给我的荣耀，我已赐给他们，使他们合而为一，像我们合而为一。
23我在他们里面，你在我里面，使他们完完全全的合而为一，叫世人知道你差了我来，也知道你爱他们如同爱我一样。
24父阿，我在那里，愿你所赐给我的人也同我在那里，叫他们看见你所赐给我的荣耀；因为创立世界以前，你已经爱我了。
25公义的父阿，世人未曾认识你，我却认识你；这些人也知道你差了我来。
26我已将你的名指示他们，还要指示他们，使你所爱我的爱在他们里面，我也在他们里面。
信息分享
当基督祷告的时候，祂除了想着当时的门徒外，心中还有你和我。请留意第20节：「也为那些因他们[门徒]信我的人祈求。」祂特别提到我们，究竟要为我们求些甚么呢？祂祈求神保守我们与祂紧紧结连一起，与祂合而为一。这个祷告究竟有没有在我们的生命中，以及在我们的教会中应验呢？
一个妨碍人信主的最大障碍，是基督徒中间出现纷争和互相攻击。基督徒之间的彼此相争和怨愤，实在是令人感到震惊和可怕的。难怪世人会质疑信仰是否真的能改变人，以及信仰是否真的能带来人生的意义。
惟有信徒之间能够彼此相爱，以行动来证明我们在基督里已合而为一，世人才会较容易相信，耶稣基督真的能够改变我们的生命。
基督今天依然这样为我们祈求。虽则在回到荣耀的天家之前，我们很难与每个信徒都意见一致；然而，即使有意见分歧，我们仍可以与其他信徒彼此相爱，在世人面前见证信徒和教会的合一。
基督岂不是说过：「你们若有彼此相爱的心，众人因此就认出你们是我的门徒了。」(约十三35)
祷告：
「亲爱的主耶稣，求你帮助我们懂得彼此相爱，以致别人能认出我们是你的门徒。」
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.'