On Wednesday, I attended the funeral of a 90-year-old lady who was the mother of a good friend of mine. The service was an incredible Christian witness of her life. There were many, many people at the funeral and they chatted happily together before and after the service and there was a wonderful spirit of love and unity. We were one as participants in the service especially as we sung Amazing Grace and as we listened to the gospel being proclaimed.
Today we think about the “Greatest example of Unity.” In John 17 we have a record of the beautiful and inspired prayer that was prayed by Jesus.
“When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” John 17:1-5, ESV.
Martin Luther King, Jr. said it this way, “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” There are less opportunities for the evil one to disrupt when we are united. Jesus is glorified when we are united together as one.
“Jesus’ prayer for unity is tightly bound with concerns for the truth, for holiness, for the distinctive testimony of his people over against the world to which they do not belong, leading to the revelation of the glory of God and by which, through faithful testimony, many in the world will come to believe that Jesus is the only true revelation of the Father who loves them and draws them to himself.” Ian Paul.
With God’s help do your best to be one of those who draws others together and not driving them apart.