City Life Starter

I. The Word: John 17:20-21

 

John 17:20-21

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

 

 

II. Reflection Questions

 

1. Are you regularly fellowshipping and worshipping with other believers?

 

 

2. How often do you pray on the behalf of a brother and/or a sister in Christ?

 

 

3. Do you eagerly contend for Christ-centered unity with fellow believers?

 

 

John chapter 17 is called by some theologians, as “The Prayer of All Prayers”. The primary theme of Jesus’ prayer is that we would united with Him, and with each other. Jesus, as He is preparing to offer Himself for the sins of the world, prays that those who are currently following Him, and those who will come to follow Him in the future (us), will be one with Him, as He is one with the Father. Leading up to this prayer, and up until His death, Jesus provided the blueprint for the unity that He prayed that we would have. It was displayed by: eating with sinners, washing His disciples’ feet, feeding the multitude, etc.

For me, growing up in church as a child, I have rarely noticed, even iota of this type of self-sacrificing behavior from my church’s leadership. If it was not evident from the church’s leadership, then not much needs to be said about the church’s members, in regards to the pursuit of unity. It was not until I got to college, and saw my fellow classmates that were actively involved in campus ministry, that I began to feel like something was missing from my life. For years, I have known the lingo, but did not know the Lord. I couldn’t have, because I was not serving my brothers and sisters with the attitude, or intention to pursue a Christ-centered oneness with them.

What repentance looked like for me, was to begin intentionally looking for opportunities to fellowship and commune, with other Christians. At the time most of my acquaintances were unsaved, so the transition to seeking to hang out with other believers, was at first a struggle, as they were at times…”corny”. However, to this very day, those same people whom I have grown in the Lord with back in college, I know that I can reach out to them with/for anything, and vice-versa.

Upon leaving college, and moving to Houston, I desired to find a church community where I can pour myself into, as well as feel that desire from a church that wanted to equip me, to be a conduit of unity within the body of Christ. Here I am, approximately 6 years later, I have found a church that values unity. With that comes both opportunities and challenges, but at the end of the day, “united we stand”. To walk in unison with Christ and with each other is no easy endeavor, but because Jesus prayed the prayer recorded in John 17, not only is it possible, but it will come to pass. As long as Christ is kept at the center of His church, He will have a unified army, ready and willing to advance His Kingdom “on Earth, as it is in Heaven” (ref. Matt 6:10).

 

Prayer:

Jesus, thank you for making a way for me to be with you forever. It is only by your selfless sacrifice, that I am able to contend for enduring and unwavering unity with other believers. Father, I pray that the same love that You have for Jesus, that You would put that same love on the inside of me. Jesus, I pray that the same love that You have for me, be shone through in my attitude, speech, and actions, so that many will want to come to know You. I desire to be one with You, as well as my brothers and sisters who profess that all of their hope is in You. In Your Name, Amen.