"I do not pray for these 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 made 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)
What does the church need to show the world? I am sure there would be several answers to that question. But I am going to cut to the chase, and say that (according to our text) the church needs to show the world what "unity" is all about. Jesus said it in His prayer (John 17:23).
"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." Jesus makes it very clear in His prayer, that we are all in this together. The Father and Son and all of us believers share in a love that is so sincere, deep, and strong. So if that is true, then why do we as brothers and sisters in Christ, keep hurting each other?
Why do the New Testament writers admonish their readers over and over to get along and support one another in the body of Christ?
We hear these words in the Carpenters song entitled: "Hurting each other" written by Gary Geld; Peter Udell:
"All my love
I give gladly to you
All your love
You give gladly to me
Tell me why then
Oh why should it be that
We go on hurting each other
We go on hurting each other
Making each other cry
Hurting each other
Without ever knowing why"
I'll end with this question to us as the Christian community:
What does the world think, when we profess to follow Jesus Christ, and yet do this type of thing? GP
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