Keep Them Safe From The Evil One

Keep Them Safe From The Evil One

I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. Make them pure and holy by teaching them your words of truth. I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. –John 17:15, 17, 20

When we read that Jesus not only prayed a prayer of protection for his disciples but also extended that prayer to all who will ever believe, we can’t help but feel privileged and hopeful for the future. Surely God answers the prayers of Jesus with a resounding Yes! Jesus prayed, “Holy Father, keep them and care for them . . . keep them safe from the evil one” (John 17:11, 15).

As we listen in on the prayer of Jesus, we can assume that God heard Jesus’ prayer and that Jesus always prayed in complete accordance with his Father’s will. So we might expect that God’s affirmative answer to his prayer would mean that the disciples never faced any harm, right? But we know that isn’t what happened. History records that all but one of them were killed for their allegiance to Christ. Only John is said to have lived to old age, and he was severely persecuted for the sake of the gospel. Most of the disciples spent years in prison and were stoned, beheaded, or crucified. So how do we reconcile Jesus’ prayer of protection for the disciples with the reality that nearly every one of them died a martyr’s death? Is that how God protects those he loves?

Jesus asked his Father to protect the disciples and us from the evil one because he knows that the devil wants to destroy us. In fact, according to 1 Peter 5:8, Satan “prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.” And how does he devour us? Satan, out of his desire to destroy us, brings suffering into our lives in an effort to destroy our faith. Satan wants to alienate you from God and claim you for eternity. But Jesus has prayed for you, asking his Father to protect you from the evil one, and you are not at Satan’s mercy. God has answered the prayer of Jesus with a resounding Yes! and you are safe from the damning power of the evil one. Satan may win a battle or two in your life, but he will never win the war against your soul. Jesus has prayed for you, and you are protected.

My Protector from evil, how I need you to keep me safe from the evil one who wants to destroy me. Cover me with your strong arms and fill me with your Spirit so I never need to fear Satan’s power in my life.

DIGGING DEEPER