In John 17:22-23 I read, “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—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.” (NIV)
Jesus’ last prayer before he went to the cross was that the church would live in unity: “The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, so they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me” (John 17:21 The Message).
Jesus tied other people coming to Christ with his followers’ unity? He said other people would believe in him when they saw Christians loving each other and living in unity. This is Jesus’ vision and goal for anybody who claims him as their Savior.
The next verses of Jesus’ prayer say that God gives us his glory so that we will be unified and others will see the Gospel: “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—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 17:22-23 NIV).
The purpose of God’s presence in my life is to make me more loving, not harsher or more opinionated or more stubborn, but more loving.
Do I want God’s glory in my life? Do I want God’s power in my life? Do I want to feel God’s presence in my life? Jesus says he gives his glory, his power, to those who lay aside secondary differences with other Christians. He wants me to lay aside the things that don’t really matter so that I can live in unity with other believers.
Our unity as God’s family, the church, is our greatest witness to unbelievers.
More than ever, people need to see that unity is possible, and it is found in the church. It is our responsibility to lay down our pride and preferences so we can focus on God’s purpose.
Our love for one another will show the world we belong to Jesus and be a testimony of the power of Christ to transform lives.
In summary, Jesus asks that I be one with other believers as he is with his Father and the Spirit. Together with other believers, we are brought to complete unity so that the world will know that God sent Jesus, who loves us, as much as the father loves him. I read in these passages that Jesus’ last prayer before he went to the cross was that the church would live in unity and become one heart and mind, just as He and the Father are. Jesus tied other people coming to Christ with his followers’ unity. He said other people would believe in him when they saw Christians loving each other and living in unity. This is Jesus’ vision and goal for anybody who claims him as their Savior. The purpose of God’s presence in my life is to make me more loving. If I want God’s glory, power, and presence in my life, he’ll give it to me as I lay aside secondary differences with other Christians. So I need to lay aside the things that don’t really matter so that I can live in unity with other believers. Unity as God’s family, with the church, will be our greatest witness to unbelievers. People need to see that unity is possible, and that it is found in the church. Therefore It is my responsibility to lay down my pride and preferences so I can focus on God’s purpose. Our love for one another will show the world that we believers belong to Jesus and to be a testimony of the power of Christ to transform lives.
Jesus' great desire for his disciples was that they would become one. He wanted them unified as a powerful witness to the reality of God's love. Am I helping to unify the body of Chris, the church? I can pray for other Christians, avoid gossip, build others up, work together in humility, give my time and money, exalt Christ, and refuse to get sidetracked arguing over divisive matters. Jesus prayed for unity among believers based on the believer's unity with him and the Father. Christians can know unity among themselves if they are living in union with God. For example, each branch living in union with the vine is united with all other branches doing the same.
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