“I am no longer in the world, and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, the name which you have given me, that they may be one even as we are.” John 17:11
Jesus knew His disciples were about to face a world that would hate them. He knew they’d be vulnerable, confused, and under attack. So He prayed for their protection, not by removing them from the world, but by keeping them in the Father’s name. The name of the Lord is a strong tower, Proverbs tells us. The righteous run into it and are safe. There is no physical location on earth where you are truly safe. The only place of real safety is inside God Himself, at the foot of the cross, in the center of His will even when it feels dangerous.
How does God keep us? Through unity with Him and with each other. Jesus prayed “that they may be one even as we are,” pointing to the mutual love and honor within the Trinity. Our safety comes through staying connected to the body of Christ. If you’ve been thinking you don’t need the church, that you can follow Jesus on your own because church people are hypocrites, consider this: we’re all hypocrites in process. God designed us to walk together, to encourage each other, to be unified at the cross even when we disagree on secondary things. When you isolate yourself, you step outside of God’s protective design. Stay connected. Stay unified. That’s where you’ll find the strength to face whatever hostility comes your way.
Reflect:
- Where have you been trying to find safety outside of God Himself?
- How connected are you to the body of Christ right now, and what step could you take to deepen that unity?
- Ask God to help you run into His name as your strong tower. Pray for deeper unity with other believers and for protection from isolation and division.
