DAY 19: UNITING AS A BODY OF CHRIST

DAY 19: UNITING AS A BODY OF CHRIST

SCRIPTURE:

“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—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 17:20-23

OBSERVATION:

In Jesus’ sacred prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, just moments before His death and resurrection, we see the Lord’s precious heart. He was already looking beyond His death and resurrection and praying for the church that would be formed through His disciples. His primary and most important desire for the church is for her unity. And this unity the Lord prayed about is of the very highest level, equivalent to the unity shared by the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The concept of the Trinity, Three in One, has long been a mystery that man cannot truly fathom, but fundamental to the concept is the Unity in mind and purpose of God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. The Son only follows what the Father does, and the Spirit only speaks what He hears from the Son. Their purposes and desires and plans are always the same, never in conflict. And this marvelous Unity is what the Lord desires of the church, all coming together with the common purpose and desire to please God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Throughout the ages, the church broke up into various fragments, mainly Catholic and Protestant, and from the Protestant churches, even further into Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Charismatic, Pentecostal, Brethren… to name but a few. How sad the Lord must be looking at the state of His divided church. However, in these last days, He is calling out believers from every denomination who are devoted to Himself to come together and pray, setting up prayer altars everywhere in homes, schools, universities, offices and churches, seeking the revival of God in their families, schools, offices, churches, cities and nations.

APPLICATION:

Since our Lord regarded Unity in the Body of Christ as such an important thing, let us endeavor to promote this Unity and pray together wherever we are, regardless of denomination or differences. Let us focus on the core thing we have in common, which is our love for God the Father and Jesus Christ, and our desire to follow Him and please Him by the Holy Spirit. Let us pray together for peace and favor and blessing on our home, our workplace, our churches, our cities or towns and our country and for Jesus’ name to be glorified wherever we go.

PRAYER:

Praise thee, Lord Jesus, for the truth and greatness of Your teachings and Your prayers. How truly important unity is, in our families, our churches, our workplaces, our cities and country. Give us a heart like Yours O Lord, that desires for Unity, especially in Your church. Take away our prejudices and preconceptions against others, but let us learn to look at each other with Your eyes. As we set up prayer altars everywhere O Lord, let Your Heavens be open, and look upon us with favor and bless us with Your presence, which is worth far more than gold. In Jesus name, Amen.