I don’t know about you, but I left our services this weekend feeling really challenged by Craig Groeschel’s message and his prayer for the church - “Make Us One.” I decided to read and meditate on some passages in the Bible which speak to the unity of the Church and the body of believers, and decided that I would post those passages here for our corporate reflection. I also went back to the Zone Gathering vault and reread this post on Unity.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 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. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:20-23, NIV)
As a prisoner for the Lord, men, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one home when you were called — one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-6, NIV)
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12-14, NIV)
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. (Philippians 2:1-2, NIV)
This week, I challenge all of us to take one or two of these passages and spend some time meditating on them. Using the “Lectio Divina” exercise is a great way to do this. Let’s commit to praying for the Lord to reveal to us our part in unifying the Church. How do we, as the Church, fight our one enemy? How can we, as the Church, develop one heart? How should we, as the Church, fulfill our one purpose - to “go and make disciples” (Matt. 28:19)?
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