John 17:20-26
Be Still: Lord, help me to be still before you. Help me to listen. Help me to receive. I ask that you transform my heart and my mind as I choose to spend this moment with you today. Amen.
Read: John 17:20-26
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. (vv20-21)
Encounter: In his final prayer, Jesus, knowing that countless generations would come to faith through the witness of his followers, prayed for us. At the heart of this prayer is a desire for unity: 'that all of them may be one’, just as he and the father are one.
When we think of the word 'unity', we may be tempted to think we're all supposed to agree on everything. Does that mean we should never have conflict? It might seem like it, but if we think about it in terms of our identity and who we are in Christ, it's something more profound. When we become part of Christ, we become part of the body, the 'one'. Our unity is not dependent on always being on the same page. We are one in Christ, even when we don't always get along or see eye to eye.
Jesus' prayer is a reminder that our unity, our oneness, is meant to be a witness to the world of God's love for us through Jesus. Unity is not about being perfect or agreeing all the time; it's about demonstrating love for one another. We know that in every family and community, there are moments of disagreement or tension. That's just part of being human. But Jesus calls us to love, forgive and to seek unity in him - united in our purpose to glorify God and share his love with the world.
When we live in genuine unity, marked by love, forgiveness, and understanding, we reflect the very nature of God. It's a unity based on our shared identity in Christ. It's a unity that the world desperately needs to see.
Apply: Take a moment to reflect on these questions. Am I contributing to the unity of the body of Christ, or am I creating division? Do my actions and words reflect the love and grace of Jesus? Am I willing to lay aside my preferences and opinions for the sake of unity?
Devote: Lord, help me to live in unity with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Teach me to love, forgive, and seek peace, just as you have shown me. May our unity as your 'body' be a witness to the world of your great love.