Thursday: A Devotional Response

I’ll be honest… In the midst of the current political climate, when I found out we were reading passages focused on unity, I sort of rolled my eyes (Sorry, it’s just the truth). In the American church, I think we often confuse unity with “getting along,” and if not that, at the very least it’s knowing when to hold your tongue so you don’t rile everyone up.

But, when I studied this passage, you know what I didn’t find? I didn’t find Jesus urging Christians to get along, to support certain ideals over others, to be quiet about things on which they disagree. Instead, I found Jesus, turning to Creator God, and asking Him to make us one.

Something that really stood out to me is that literally not one part of Jesus’ prayer is asking God to solve any of our problems that divide us. However, Jesus reminds everyone listening that HE is the one who has been “granted authority over all people that he might give eternal life.” That was a huge relief to me as I meditated on this passage, because half the reason I stress about division in the church is that it feels like it’s my job to help bridge divides wherever I can. However, Jesus makes it abundantly clear in this prayer to the Father, that He is the one who has protected us, that not even one has been lost. Jesus is the one with the authority to decide who should be given eternal life. Jesus is the One, pointing us to the Father, who can bring us into the fold of unity that He has with God.

I don’t have a nice way to wrap this up. I really don’t have an answer to what exactly I think unity in the Body looks like right now. But you know, I shouldn’t! Because that’s not my job! Jesus KNEW we were going to mess this up on our own. I am so grateful that He left this prayer for us to read and to understand that unity isn’t political agreement. It’s not getting along, it’s all of us, having our eyes and minds fixed on the Father and His kingdom.

by Rachel Daun