If you knew you were leaving this earth tomorrow or the next day, what do you think you would spend your time doing in your last hours? I imagine like me, you would want to make sure everyone who was in your inner circle was going to be cared for; that you had “covered” it all as much as you could. I have heard of some people making recordings of advice for their children if they are dying. Others make sure finances are in order and relationships are mended.
Jesus spent the time just before He was arrested in prayer. This prayer is recorded in John 17. First He prayed for Himself, then for His disciples, and then for us who followed them. Do you know what His main agenda was? His glory and our UNITY.
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. John 17:20-23
Why was unity so important to Jesus? So they will know WHO we are, and WHO HE IS. There is another verse that says we will be known as Christ-followers (Christians) by our love.
This makes me think about my family. It gives me much joy that my children are good friends. How wonderful it is when our home is peace-filled. Our relationships are stable. That helps me understand how delighted God is in us when we are living in unity & magnifying HIM to the watching world!
So, how do I/we look to Jesus? When He sees us does He see UNITY? Are we FOR each other? Do we yield to one another? Do we pray for one another? Do we honor one another? Do we serve one another? Do we build each other up? Each of us must search our own hearts before the Lord and ask Him, “How am I doing?”
Father, we pray Jesus’ prayer for your Body, please bring us to complete unity so the world will know that you sent Jesus who loves us, and that you love us as you love Jesus. Amen.
5 comments:
OMG Kathy..that was a wonderful post.. and so true.. when i think of leaving this earth,,my first thoughts go to my family..and as mothers,,i know that doesnt surprise God in the least..and we do want them to be united and close and supportive of each other..but let us teach them the proper order of things. God, Spouce and family..
Love this post.. thank you..
have blessed day my friend.. talk to you again real soon..xoxo
Great post, Kathy! Gave me something to think about today for sure.
Funny how the church sometimes seems the least unified place on earth. Why is that? It's a question I've pondered a lot as we have walked through one ministry location after another, wishing for everyone to "just get along" and do great things for the kingdom.
I don't think we truly know how to love as Christ loved. In addition, I think our "religion"/faith/relationship with Jesus is a very personal issue to most of us; therefore, the gloves come out when others don't see things our way.
"Don't mess with MY Jesus and our plans" becomes the mentality we grasp, and of course, because all seems "from Jesus", why would anyone want to change things?
Unity. No wonder Christ spent his final hours on his knees in plea-filled surrender to his Father. No wonder the cross. We'd all do well to remember that day the next time our pride gets in the way of our unity.
peace~elaine
Great post! I am so thankful for the Great Intercessor! Through His example, I pray with confidence knowing that "One day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!"
Blessings! Joan
What a WONDERFUL post! It's hard to explain, but I feel so blessed for having read it (sounds weird, doesn't it? But as I was reading I stopped and thought how thankful I was to be reading it)! Thank you for reminding us of Christ's prayer and the importance of it! Love, Michelle
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