Ah.  I’m learning a lot about this… or, I feel like I am.

 

I have long been burdened to see unity happen in the people of God.  I have given of myself to try and see this happen.  But, I guess it’s harder than one would expect. 

 John 17:20-23  “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. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 

This was Jesus’ prayer for US!  For you and me!  He was thinking of those of us who would be following in His footsteps hundreds of years after He had died and rose into Heaven, forever interceding for us.  His great desire of us was that we would express the perfection of unity, just like He had with his Father.  His plea to the Father was that we would become “one” like the Godhead.  Amazing!  How can we even understand the unity within God; that the distinct Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three individuals, yet One Being??  And, how could WE — diverse people, ministries, groups, etc. —  EVER express the complete UNITY that God has within Himself??  HOW?!  I mean, our feeble minds can’t even understand the reality of it – how are we to EMBODY it – this reality that we can’t even define clearly?!

 

Yet, it was the prayer of the Son, to His Father.  God, speaking to God.  Would the Father deny His Son this one desire??  No way.  The Father would be pleased to grant the answer to this perfect prayer, the prayer of His Beloved Son!  Does He lack the power to do this?  Never.  It is guaranteed.  It will be.  It will be.    

So, why does it seem so impossible?!?!

 

Jesus prayed that we would be “one” as He and the Father were/are one; i.e. sharing the same emotions, feelings, thoughts – and submitted in love to one another, rejoicing in one another and enjoying bringing joy to each other. 

 

Not only will we be One with one another, we will be One with God Himself!!  Talk about two very DIFFERENT beings . . . becoming ONE!  God wants to share HIS glory with us!  His glory is His goodness!  He is going to share HIS goodness with us, it will be OUR goodness.  Not only that, we will love Jesus AS MUCH as the Father loves Jesus.

 

WOAH.

 

The question is:  how much does the Father love His Son??

 

I’ll stop there, for now.  Unity has been burning in me.  But, I’ll do this in segments, so as not to overwhelm you.  If you’re at all interested in following my train of thought let me know . . . but, I’ll probably keep posting anyhow, even if no one responds.  J