Devotional Reading: John 17: 1-11

Text: Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.  (v. 11b)

While I could talk about how our divisions hurt God (that may be the subject of a sermon), I decided to turn toward Jesus’ prayer for His disciples then and now.  As this day draws to a close it does us good to reflect upon how God “protected” us throughout the day. We may have had a very hard day, with all kinds of bad news and challenges that we did not know how to meet. Or, the day may have been one of relaxation and ease. Probably it was somewhere in between. But no matter what kind of day it was, here we are. The day is done. It is time for us to regroup and consider how we will tackle tomorrow. No matter what the future holds we will tackle it confident of the grace of God and a Holy protection.

I read many years ago that the great baseball announcer, “Red” Barber would end each day with this prayer from the Psalms. I will close this devotion with those words of prayer.

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.  (Psalm 4:9). Amen.