20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 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 17:20-23
Spending all of my adolescent and adult life as a part of a local church, I frequently sat in sermons where John 17 was preached and the topic was always unity. Jesus prayed for unity amongst believers, which demonstrates rather clearly that God’s will is for followers of Jesus to walk in unity. Sadly, the commentary on social media is proof that we have not paid nearly enough attention to Jesus’ prayer in recent years! Nevertheless, Jesus’ prayer has not changed, and neither has our need for it.
But is unity even possible? With so many varying doctrines within the Chrsitian faith, so many different methodology and practices for local church expressions and discipleship journeys, so many different cultural backgrounds and political ideologies that are often opposing if not antagonizing of one another… how are we to truly practice unity?
Jesus prayed for unity, but we often forget some key other petitions He made on our behalf. Jesus prayed that we would be in the Father and in Jesus. (vs 21) He also prayed that we would be sanctified by the truth. (vs 17)
Abiding in Jesus and being united with God is a prerequisite for true unity. Obeying faithfully God’s Word is essential to living united with each other. Without these, our unity is shallow and self-serving— not sincere and sacrificial like Christ has modeled for us.
We do ourselves a disservice in the Body of Christ when we teach the value of unity without a call to greater intimacy with God and obedience to His Word.
This week, may our love for one another grow deeper. May we prefer one another and show mercy to one another and bear each other’s burdens… Not because we are told to. If the fate of our unity falls into the hands of moralism, we are doomed. Instead, may we walk in unity because we have rooted ourselves in Christ and sought His Word and His ways. As we receive power from the Spirit of God, may it transform the depths in which our unity exists. May our unity be the fruit of our desperation for God and our dependence on His Word.
*This reflection comes from my own time in the Word while completing the Seek First Journal. Click here to learn more