Reflecting on John 17:20-24“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.” (John 17:22–23)
It is my belief that the glory of God is radical love.
This is the glory Moses asked to see, and God showed him (Exodus 34:6-7).
Such love heals, reconciles and brings together as one.
Here Jesus prays for future believers, that divine love would unite them as well.
Its sad to think how divided God’s chosen, holy and dearly loved children are.
“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 one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:12–14)
Paul like Jesus urges radical unity among believers, despite difference and disagreement.
If we are known as Jesus’s disciples by our love, what does our disunity suggest?
One thing it does is it leads people to doubt that God sent Jesus (v.23).
What kind of Saviour is He, if His own family cannot even get along?
In reality there is only one holy, universal church, and all believers are our family.
If they (others who believe in Jesus) are holy and dearly loved, who am I to reject them?
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, it is to our shame that we keep on fighting and dividing. Forgive us our cliques and clubs (denominations), and bring us to complete unity in the glory of Your love!