Wednesday, May 13, 2009
One
I chose this picture to bring a smile to your face today and also to share one of the greatest desires of God for our lives. Throughout the Bible, high priority is given to the subject of spiritual unity. For example, just before His death, Jesus prayed fervently to His Father that His followers would be brought to complete unity-like the relationship He has with His Father. The Book of Acts documents how this wonderful relationship between brothers and sisters in Christ came into being after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. True spiritual unity flows from the presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of God's people.
Listen to the words of David as he reveals the splendor of unity...
Psalm 133
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments.
It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing-
Life forevermore.
From the words of Charles Jefferson come this, "The living stones have no abiding life, unless built into the walls of a growing temple." Truly we must not lose our desire to grow the body of Christ, but in doing so we must never forget to embrace one heart at a time. Our compassion can cover many with words of affirmation, but to stop and look someone in the eye, listen with intent to the words that are coming from their soul, and affirm one that you hear those words and that you care is truly fulfilling the work that Christ called us to do. Though found in the throng of so many, it only took one to seize the attentiveness of Jesus' heart. Whether it was the life of blind Batimaeus, the woman with the flow of blood, or Zaccaeus perched in a tree to see the passing Messiah, Jesus always had and always will have time for one.
Jesus' time was nearing the end with His disciples, and the cross, death, resurrection, and ascension of His life was coming to a dramatic climax. Before this emotional time took place, Jesus' prayer for His believers was that God would make them one.
"I do not pray for these (disciples) alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;
"that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; That they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
"And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:
"I in them, and You in Me; That they may be perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.~ John 17:20-23
Let our prayer also be the prayer that Jesus prayed for us, "Make us one, Lord!"
Blessings, Joey
