Keep Them From The Evil One

I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 

John 17:15 

Satan is real. He is not merely a fictitious character manufactured to give evil a personality. Scripture makes reference to him. Christ interacts with him on more than one occasion. He is as real as any other person is. He has power, although he only operates within defined boundaries. The first chapters of Job show us his method of operation and indicates some of the limitations God places upon him. Our text is Christ’s intercession, specifically for His disciples that God the Father would ‘keep them from the evil one.’ He is not asking for God to remove them from the world into which Christ was sending them to bear witness of Him. He is praying that God will preserve them from the effects of Satan’s designs against them. Satan hates both Christ and those who are His. He cannot destroy them, but he can harass them in various ways. In securing His disciples, Christ intercedes for them, that God would keep them from Satan’s influence. If Christ interceded for them, we have every reason to believe He intercedes for us that God would keep us from the evil one.  

Our Great God and our Savior, 
we rejoice that You protect us. 
We praise You that You limit the power of the evil one. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning