Power In Unity!

John 17:20-21 -- Jesus prayed, “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.”

Of all the many things that Jesus could have prayed about for us, he chose to pray for our unity with each other. When Jesus prayed this prayer he knew he was about to die on the cross. When a person only has a short time left to live, trivial things don’t matter. They think of what matters most to them. They think of the loved ones they are leaving behind. Jesus prayed about being united once more with his Heavenly Father, whom he loved. He prayed for protection for his closest earthly friends – his disciples. He then prayed for us – those who will believe. His most important prayer on our behalf was for unity - unity of all who will believe in Christ and unity with God through Christ.

Unity is a hard thing to achieve. Look at the unity of a man and a woman, as they become one flesh. The divorce rate gets higher every day. Then think about the unity of your church. To glorify God, the leadership must show unity. For a positive loving atmosphere, where God can be worshipped and praised, there must be unity among the members.

Look at the first church and its beginnings. When God sent the Holy Spirit into their lives there was an excitement and unity of purpose. God used their unity and devotion to bring others to Christ.

As I reflect back to the events this past Easter weekend, I can’t help but be in awe of how God take a family willing to serve and creates love for the lost! I believe God is pleased when He sees His children giving. This Easter was such a great time! Isn’t it amazing that just saying yes to loving people with a servant’s heart can unify everyone?

Luke tells us this in Acts 2:42-47. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

The bottom line can be summed up with Philippians 2:1-4 – “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, have the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interest, but also to the interests of others.”