Jesus Desires a United Church

Jesus prays for our relationships with one another, and that we will be marked by unity, and through Jesus’ prayer He really sets the bar high.

“I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.” (John 17:21)

Jesus is praying that we have the same type of relationship that He has with the Father. And you have to admit that’s a pretty tight relationship. They’ve been together since before time began, and this is the type of relationship Jesus wants us have with one another.

It is only through such a loving relationship that those outside the faith will know that we are truly Jesus’ disciples.

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)

People won’t recognize us by the size of our Bibles or our Christian bumper stickers. They’ll only recognize us by our love for each other.

Our problem in loving others in this way is they are just like us, and that’s scary. We’re all sinners and as such not the easiest people to get along with. Therefore, on the natural side of this equation it’s hard to find unity. So we need to go to God to find the strength to get along with each other.

Paul said,

“May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.” (Romans 15:5)

If we’re going to love one another, not only is it going to take a miracle, but Paul says it’s going to take patience and encouragement that can only come from God’s love for us. But even more, it takes us being fully sold out followers of His.

The closer we get to Jesus, the closer we’ll get to each other.