One in Christ, Part 1 Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: One in Christ--------------------------------------- Date: 7/25/2000 Keywords: "believe" "glory" "one" "unity" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: John 17:20-23* 20. "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21. that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23. I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Questions 1. Who was Jesus praying for?   2. What was Jesus praying for?   3. What does Jesus want for the world?   Practical help It is a tremendous blessing to know that Jesus prayed for you and me. His prayer at the Last Supper wasn't only for those gathered around the table; it was for all of the future beneficiaries of what was about to take place. You have to be sure that, given what Jesus knew at this time, what he was going to pray for his disciples was absolutely the most important thing he could think of. And what he wanted most of all was not for God to spare him from the cross, but for the cross to become the means by which he could be one with his followers. What a blessing to know that Jesus loves us because he wants to be with us in eternity, not just because he wants his Father to be glorified. Because he shares that longing with us, he also shares his glory with us. The unity that he prayed for was not just between himself and his followers, but among his followers. The purpose of that unity is to point the world to God. That purpose cannot be defeated, but each sin is a hindrance to its fulfillment. The allure of pornography on the Internet needs to be seen for what it is: a tool of Satan to hide the truth that glory is in Jesus and him alone. You can find many in the Church who struggle with the same sin. That sad fact, while disheartening at one level, is also a source of encouragement because there are many to unite with in battling this problem. While seeking help for your struggles, don't overlook the strength that can be found by joining with others in the same fight. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2000 by eXXit *Scriptures are from The Holy Bible: New International Version, © copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved.