John 17:8-9 “For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.”

In some circles it is popular today to insist that everyone should be absolutely equal (even though they don’t practice that themselves). They insist that God is grossly unfair because He doesn’t act that way. There are many things we don’t know and can’t know, but Paul points out in Romans 1:20 that God has revealed Himself through His creation to every human being, which makes our response to Him our individual responsibility. What Jesus is saying here is that His disciples received the Word of the Father that Jesus spoke to them, and that put them in the enviable position of His praying for them. The people I just referred to would scream that it was unfair that He specified He wasn’t praying for the world in general, but the world in general rejected the Word He spoke to them. It is in receiving God’s Word that we become His, as this passage says. That’s why it’s all the more tragic that many in America today are explicitly rejecting all or part of the Bible. That’s no way to be a child of God! As Jesus said in John 15:7, we have to retain His Word in us for us to remain in Him. That doesn’t mean memorization (though memorization is not at all a bad idea) but meditating on the Word to put it into practice and make it part of us. If we will do that, Hebrews 7:25 says that Jesus is continually praying for us even now!

I struggle sometimes with the sad reality that some people will not be saved. Indeed, it is a problem of the will, because they choose to reject God’s free offer of salvation, not wanting the submission to God that goes with it. I am not to give up on them, but neither am I to use up my emotional and physical energy on them and so neglect those whose hearts are more open. The difficulty there is, I’m not a good judge of who is in which category! I’ve got to be completely submitted and obedient to the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to order my days and speak through me, so that I may be fully available to share Christ with those who are ready to receive. As He has pointed out to me in our Wednesday night prayer meetings, there is no way any individual could personally pray for every prayer-worthy item, so I need to be yielded in that area as well, not failing to pray but not feeling guilty, either. I need to be active on behalf of all who will receive, and rejoice in that.

Father, there are some things that threaten to “pop a circuit breaker” in my mind and heart when I dwell on them. Help me trust You fully, not trying to be in control but recognizing my own weakness and foolishness. Thank You for Your salvation, and for the privilege of sharing that with others. I pray that in Your mercy, many more would indeed open their hearts to receive, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!