What Jesus would have us to do . . .

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

(John 17:15-17) Is it not comforting to know that as Jesus was preparing to go to the cross, and eventually leave the earth to return to heaven, that some of His last words and prayers were for us . . . His followers. Yes, here we read how Jesus petitioned God the father for His disciples. Later (John 17:20-25)Jesus would add our names (those who will believe through thier message) tothe list of those He desires to brought to complete unity with Himself and the Father. s Jesus desired for all believers to be one in order to bring glory to God and to allow others to witness His love, it is our desire to do just that. This should be our prayer as wel! As a Body, if we are consisitent with the Word and the world sees a unified Body of believers, they too will want to know this God we serve! Yet as we quarrel among family, challenge God's Word with varying lifestyle choices, and tolerate the disrepect to our God within society, the world instead witnesses a mess! As Jesus addresses the churches in Revelation 2, He too addresses us today. Though we all love our Lord and desire to please Him, we all have our challenges. We all are falling short in our witness in one way or another. Though God indeed knows our hearts, He also knows we can do better . . . and so do we! Let's make a concentrated effort to honor God this day . . . this week. As we find ourselves challenged by His Word, let's make it a point to live it out rather than compromise. Let's do what Jesus would have us to do rather than cave in to our own flesh. Perhaps the world, even our friends and family, would see a different Jesus too!