My last post challenged me. I hate it when that happens.
I don’t mind pointing out your flaws and mistakes. It’s less pleasant when my own words bite me in the backside. But I try to take this following Jesus thing seriously, and this time I’m forced to look in the mirror.
I wrote about this passage from Jesus’ final prayer for His disciples.
“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)
I believe arguments about theology, doctrine, and politics get in the way. Most of them are absurd and have little to do with Jesus’ message. So I’m not at all surprised that His final wish was for complete unity among them, because that unity would show Jesus to the world. Jesus knew their love for each other would be their most powerful sermon.
But a funny thing happened. After writing about that passage I started hearing my own thoughts and speech. I heard the slightly snarky comments, often whispered under my breath. I recognized the critical thinking that never made it into words.
Complete unity isn’t some idealistic notion from The Good Ship Lollipop. It’s not a Sunday morning game of Let’s Pretend.
Complete unity was one of Jesus’ final earthly prayers for His followers. I think He was serious.
I think I should pay attention.
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