Great Plains Daily Devotional for 9/24/2019

John 17:20 

“I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word,

Evangelism is really scary to me. All my life I’ve heard the messages about taking the Gospel out into the world, yet I’ve been very reluctant to openly share my faith. I want to believe that my witness is more one of example. I attend church and speak of the church’s importance in my life, I do outreach, I treat others fairly and with love, I reach out to the lost … surely when people see me doing these things, they see Christ in me. But there’s always been this nagging that said those things are only part of what I am asked to do. I’m asked to share my faith, to give words to the feelings of my heart, to give praise and thanksgiving to Christ for his sacrifice for me and for others. Openly. Aloud. With words.
 
These passages are a prayer Jesus prays for his disciples. He knows he will be leaving them soon, and he is asking God to “sanctify them in truth” so that they may effectively spread his teachings. He asks not only on behalf of the disciples but of all who will learn from them and believe through their words, and on and on. That’s me. I was being prayed for by Jesus. I am part of the line of believers who claim Jesus as Lord and who have a responsibility to share his message with others. Knowing that Jesus prayed for me to have courage and confidence to speak his message makes me stronger. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me … even speak of my love for him with others.
 

Prayer for Reflection

Jeremiah 8:18-9:1
Psalm 79:1-9 or Psalm 4
1 Timothy 2:1-7
Luke 16:1-13