Day 115 United by Love

April 30,
Day 115

John 17: 22, 23
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.

We are united.
How simple is that?
Wait, I do not agree with my
sisters or brothers in certain areas.
Still united?

Jesus is in us and God is in Jesus
and this is what brings us to complete unity.
Sounds a bit simplistic. How is this truly lived out?

Wait, isn't it our well thought out views,
our angles about this christian faith that
unites us? If not, what a shame.
We have spent hours articulating it.

Our unity is powerful.
Our unity is evangelistic.

John 17: 22, 23 basically says
our complete unity enables
the world to know that God sent Jesus
and that God loves them (the world)
just as God loves Jesus.


Church bodies all around the globe
meet and pray over how to reach
a community effectively for Jesus Christ.
They spend an inordinate amount of time
planning evangelistic events.
They begin planning vacation bible school
in their own walls rarely
venturing to inquire about doing it with other denominations.
Can you imagine what that might result in????!!!

They create small groups that will help
to lead couples or individuals in a further
understanding of all things christian.
But they fail to see the evangelistic tool
right under their noses.

Our unity is on Jesus Christ.
It is not on our thoughts about
Jesus Christ. It is on Jesus Christ.

We fail to love.
We fail to be united.

We attempt to be united on our
well thought out, well written issues, or
should I say theologies.

We cluster around dead men, authors of the past who have led
exemplary lives but never resurrected. We even celebrate their
their birthdays. I am convinced that everyone of those men,
based on the little I know of them, would shudder and turn
in their graves in horror and complete sadness.

The love we have to show one another
from our isolated congregations is buckets and buckets full of oceanic love.
But we refuse to rally on the broken body and spilled blood of our Savior who resurrected for us.

Oh, I agree. I have simplified it.
Yes indeed.
And sure enough so has our Father.

The very evangelistic tool we spend hours planning for
is within us, the glory He has given us to bring us, bring us, bring us (note who is doing the action) to complete unity.

But this is what I see. I see many in relationship with their thoughts, with even Jesus' words but not with Jesus Himself.

Are you a follower of Jesus? Or a follower of what you think about Jesus?

Let's plan on unity!