Unity

“I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” John 17:23 NIV

            Have you ever given thought that Jesus has prayed for you? Jesus had a specific petition for all future Christians who would make up His church. Near the end of His “high priestly prayer” recorded in John’s gospel chapter 17, Jesus made His requests known soon before He was to go to the cross. He prayed that we would be with Him in eternity and see His Glory, but His specific request was that we all be one in complete unity. Imagine as Jesus was about to be crucified, His concerned for us future believers was for there to be unity. So how are we doing?

            Before we answer, perhaps it would good for us to know why Jesus made this request. Jesus reasoned, “Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them.” You made have heard the statement; “The only Christ the world will see, is the Christ they see in you.” That is very true and Jesus confirms it later in His prayer as He says, “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you……” Indeed, most of the world does not know God. Many have heard of God and have somewhat of a knowledge of Him, but they do not know the true God and Jesus Christ His Son.

            As the world looks at the church and individual Christians today, do they see unity? Do they see the love of Christ between us? Are we in a unifying fashion convincing the world that Jesus is God’s Son sent to save us from eternal damnation? Does the world see their spiritual need by observing authentic Christianity in unity, or is it muddled by the in-fighting, pride, and disagreements in doctrine not essential to Salvation? There are legitimate differences of opinion in the teaching of scripture in churches today, but they should not be at the expense of alienating those outside of Christ from hearing the message of the Gospel.

            Unity. So how are we doing?

Read Jesus’s prayer for all believers:  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2017:20-26&version=NIV