John 17:14-18
14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
In Jesus final prayer for his disciples, he says: "I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one" (verse 15). There are times when I wish God would just take me out of this world, as life can be difficult. We may think that if we could leave this world then all our problems would end, the temptations would go away, and we'd be perfect. But God isn't interested in making our lives easy. He wants to sanctify us (verse 17), to transform us into His image. So we shouldn't pray to escape this world, but rather pray for protection (verse 15) and sanctification (verse 17) as we live in the world but not of it.
God, protect me from the evil one, and sanctify me in Your truth.
14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
In Jesus final prayer for his disciples, he says: "I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one" (verse 15). There are times when I wish God would just take me out of this world, as life can be difficult. We may think that if we could leave this world then all our problems would end, the temptations would go away, and we'd be perfect. But God isn't interested in making our lives easy. He wants to sanctify us (verse 17), to transform us into His image. So we shouldn't pray to escape this world, but rather pray for protection (verse 15) and sanctification (verse 17) as we live in the world but not of it.
God, protect me from the evil one, and sanctify me in Your truth.