Did you know that Jesus prayed for you before he was handed over to be crucified?
“May they all be one” (v. 21)
“May they also be one in Us” (v. 21)
“May they be one as We are one” (v. 22)
“May they be completely one” (v. 23)
3. so that the world will know that God loved them just as he loved Jesus (v. 23)
I am saddened at the divisions in the church today. From denominational differences to discord within churches, our enemy has had his way with us. Our enemy knows that if we are one, the message of Jesus is unstoppable. I can’t fix the denominational differences and discord with churches. But I can choose to pursue unity in my church, in the church as a whole. I can choose not to criticize leaders or churches, both on a small or large scale. We can get so caught up in differences of opinion that we are totally missing the mission: to share the gospel with the world. If our eyes are on the mission, I believe our little tiffs will fade into obscurity. I think we’ll lead with love and that love will cover a multitude or sins
That doesn’t mean that disagreements won’t occur. The book of Acts is full of them. But you see that they worked out the issues because the kingdom cause was greater than their divisions. They were one in mission, one in purpose.
May the decisions I choose to make today echo Jesus’ prayer for me. That I will make every effort to live in unity – to be one – with believers for whom Jesus died.