Unity Without Uniformity
This morning in our 5 AM Men's Bible Study we went to the second section of Jesus' prayer in John 17. We tried to grasp what Jesus was asking the Father to give to His eleven faithful disciples. These men would have to take the gospel to the world, so Jesus asked the Father "that they may be one, as We are." We had a great discussion of how the Father and the Son were different, but they were one at the same time. Jesus had a body, but the Father is a Spirit without a body. Jesus died on the cross, but the Father stayed in Heaven. Jesus was even submissive to the authority of the Father. However, in every way they were equal in nature and they were one in mind and every other way. That is unity without uniformity.
That is what Jesus wanted for His eleven disciples, and that is what He wants for all of His disciples. It is like a husband and wife. (Ephesians 5:22-32) They are two persons, but they become one. They are very different in some ways, but they are joined with a supernatural unity. Our unity with the Lord and with each other should be even greater than a husband and a wife. We do not have to be uniform or the same, but we can have the same heart and mind and be in one accord together with the Lord. Then, Jesus lets us know that our unity is a part of having full joy. I pray that we will strive to have the Lord's unity with our fellow believers, and that our joy will be full.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 13-15 and Acts 19:21-41.
That is what Jesus wanted for His eleven disciples, and that is what He wants for all of His disciples. It is like a husband and wife. (Ephesians 5:22-32) They are two persons, but they become one. They are very different in some ways, but they are joined with a supernatural unity. Our unity with the Lord and with each other should be even greater than a husband and a wife. We do not have to be uniform or the same, but we can have the same heart and mind and be in one accord together with the Lord. Then, Jesus lets us know that our unity is a part of having full joy. I pray that we will strive to have the Lord's unity with our fellow believers, and that our joy will be full.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 13-15 and Acts 19:21-41.