Philippians 1:9-11 English Standard Version

9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

How many messages have we received that simply say “We prayed for you today.” It is the knowledge that we have been prayed over that should matter but what is missing is the specifics.

Here Paul tells the Phillipians some of the things he has prayed about. It is comforting in a way to know what people are praying for us so that if those prayers are answered, we would know why.

 I pray that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. AMEN

This is a referred prayer. The sentiment and context is meant for my readers. We can take the example and use it to form a prayer of our own for those we care about.

These prayer examples were given to us to help us help one another in ways we so often fumble for the right words to convey our sentiments. I copied that prayer word for word but we can use our own words to add specifics if needed.

The important thing in referred prayer is that we share the love and concern for one another.

Paul met these people and had a better knowledge of their deeds and needs. I do not know all my readers with that same communal knowledge. If the Spirit leads me to voice this prayer, then it shall fall upon the heart that needs it and bless them in ways that only God can control.

We want good things for one another, so why not say a prayer over one another that is godly, wholesome and edifying?

These are examples. What is important is the sentiment and love and concern in which they are shared. Who knows, maybe with practice our prayers may end up sounding as effective as Pauls.

Philemon 1:6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.

AMEN

John 17:20-26 English Standard Version

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Our High Priest did not forget to include us. Everyone who will come to believe by faith in Jesus Christ from His resurrection until the end of the church age is included.

I understand that being one of millions does not make the individual feel special but my experience says He loves me as if I were the only believer.

To be loved in the same way that God the Father loved the Son is the promise and that sounds impossible from a human perspective, but He is God and all things are possible with Him. 

Matthew 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

The real miracle is being loved perfectly since we are so imperfect. We do not have to be perfect to be loved perfectly. There are two distinct aspects of His abiding presence that are at work in us. His Word and His Love.

To know the truth and to know His love are everything in preparing us for our Lord.

Being human, being people with a past, the move towards feeling accepted is difficult and we should not make light of our need to move from guilt ridden to loving Him faithfully.

Yes God could perfect us instantly but seeking that leaves those that need our witness, our love and knowledge without the help that God planned for His chosen people to reach all of those who have not yet come to Him by faith. Thinking only of our own salvation is selfish. 

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant  or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.