Unity is the perfection of God’s glory. Or put another way, God’s glory is most seen in our unity. When Jesus says, “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one...” (John 17:22), He is not only describing the nature of glory but also defining the purpose of glory; namely, oneness. God is three-in-one, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each equal in essence and power. Therefore, God’s glory is the manifestation of His one-ness.
Jesus desires for His glory to be seen in and through His disciples. How? In and through unity, a glorious reflection of the Godhead.
UNITY IS MORE THAN AGREEMENT
Jesus describes glory or unity in the following words: “I in them and you in me...” (John 17:23) Agreement can be made verbally, yet in our hearts we can begrudge or fight against such agreement. For example, it is possible for a husband and wife to agree on something in front of their children, but when the bedroom door shuts there is sharp disagreement. There is division through the heart of their relationship and they cannot hide it. Not only DO the kids notice, but the atmosphere in the home will eventually betray their formal and outward verbal agreement.
Unity is about an abiding presence, the presence of God. Jesus has won the victory through His life, death, burial and resurrection and secured for us the eternal presence of God and opened a new and living way through Himself into that presence. We can now rest in His presence with us because of His victory for us. Where there is true unity in a church (or in a home) there is more than agreement. There is the abiding presence of God, a different atmosphere that reflects oneness - a living relationship in unity with God.
UNITY IS MORE THAN WORDS
Jesus goes on to further describe the purpose of glory in unity by stating, “...that they may become perfectly one...” (17:23). Here is not a description of a flawless people but of a genuine people. The church is to be a genuine expression of the glory of God, which is only possible where there is unity. John defined and described seeing the glory of God in Jesus Christ as “grace and truth” (John 1:14). In the unity of grace and truth, we see, know, experience and are changed by a genuine expression of the glory of Jesus Christ.
Recently, my wife and I received a phone call from a friend who had been invited to a young girl’s high school graduation party. The family had invested time and money to prepare for the celebration. Everything was ready and everyone was waiting for friends to arrive. But none of them did. The phone call was a request to come and be an expression of what wasn’t there. Unity is about more than words. It’s about the genuine expression and experience of His heart, of His grace and truth, and of His love and mercy.
UNITY IS MORE THAN MISSION
Finally, Jesus prays for unity so that “the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17:23) Clearly, unity is intended to convince the world that Jesus came into it. But that’s not all. This is speaking of something more than having a mission. Jesus says that unity will convince the world that God has sent Him AND loved us. In other words, it’s not that we are provers of God to the world, but rather that God proves Himself to the world through our blood-bought, love-changed lives. There is no separation between Jesus being sent and God loving us. The proof that God has loved us is that we now love God. It’s possible to “be on mission” and neglect and forget the fact that our living and loving relationship with Christ gives credence to our message and mission
Imagine, on my wedding day, if when it came time to make the vows I did so at a distance, say hidden somewhere in a closet! What proof would that give of my love? Not much. Rather, my standing with my wife gave credence to my words and my words gave credence to my standing. Both are required. God did not ‘so love the world’ at a distance. He didn’t whisper of His love from some far off hidden corner of the universe. No, He so loved that world that He came into the world by sending His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is God both standing near to the world and speaking to the world. God came so close to sinful mankind that He touched them, healed them, served them, and raised them from the dead. Ultimately, He died for them - for us. The cross was the proof to us of God’s love for us. God could not have come closer nor spoken louder than He did through the cross.
We must reflect the oneness of our God who is three in one. We must seek a unity in our lives, our homes and our churches that is more than agreement, words or mission statements. We must seek His abiding presence, seek to be a genuine expression of His glory and remember that our lives are proof, to ourselves and others, that Jesus loved us, came for us and saved us.
QUESTION: What’s the atmosphere like in my home? Do people speak of the presence of God in my church? Are people drawn to me or do they turn away?
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