Today's Journey
Getting Along
Jun 15,2013
http://getmorestrength.org
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3
I’m guessing that even astronomical gas prices won’t stop
many parents from packing up the car and taking the kids on a road trip
for vacation this summer. And if the trip is more than 50 miles, you can
already imagine the scene in the backseat: “Mom, he’s on my side!” or
“Dad, tell her to stop doing that!” When the kids don’t get along, it
drives their parents nuts and takes the joy out of the journey.
I often wonder: Does God feel that way about His kids? He has asked
us to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the
bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3),
and yet differences in gender, color, gifts, temperaments, roles,
perspectives, preferences, and denominations threaten to wreck the unity
that He intends for us to enjoy on the road to paradise. The psalmist
had it right when he declared, “How good and pleasant it is when
brothers dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1).
A close look at Jesus’ prayer in John 17:1-26
sheds some light on how to grow up and get along. Just before His
ultimate demonstration of love on the cross, Jesus prayed that His
followers would be unified (John 17:11) and that they would be set apart by the truth of God’s Word (John 17:16-17).
He continued, “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” (John 17: 20-21).
We can’t miss the connection between truth and unity. In fact, truth
is the key ingredient of biblical unity. Truth is what unites us as
believers: Truth about His deity. Truth about the message of salvation
that comes by grace through faith in Christ alone. Truth that the
Scriptures are the sole authority for faith and practice, and that they
are without error and completely trustworthy.
Jesus goes on to indicate that unity is also built around
righteousness. “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but
that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world,
even as I am not of it” (John 17: 15-16). As
His followers, unity comes when together we cling to the distinction
between good and evil and seek to reflect the goodness of God in all
that is pure and right.
What we know to be true about God’s Word and what we know to be true
about how to live gives us a lot in common! And since Jesus is at the
center of it all, He becomes the glue that makes us one. I might not be
particularly drawn to you—your culture and background may be different
than mine—but when I find out that you too are a follower of Jesus, His
Word, and His Way, I find myself saying, “You too? Hey, let’s walk
together!”
Being one in Jesus gives us the joy of bearing one another’s burdens,
praying for one another, overlooking class distinctions, and casting
the log out of our own eyes rather than focusing on the weaknesses of
others. When we let the grand things we have in common override our
petty differences, the backseat will be a happier place, and we can all
enjoy the journey in peace!
YOUR JOURNEY…
- Read Jesus’ prayer in John 17:1-26. Why do you think He earnestly prayed for unity among His followers? Read through the passage again making it your own prayer, and ask Him to reveal areas where unity may be lacking.
- What are some things that make unity in the body of Christ so challenging?
- Have you ever compromised truth and righteousness for the sake of unity? Ask the Lord to keep you strong in these areas, and seek input from a trusted pastor or church leader if you need help bolstering these components of your faith.
- Is there a fellow believer you find difficult to get along with? What can you do to pursue unity in that relationship?
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