Gray Southern – Capital District
I’m praying not only for them
But also for those who will believe in me
Because of them and their witness about me.
The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—
Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
So they might be one heart and mind with us.
Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.
The same glory you gave me, I gave them.
So they’ll be as unified and together as we are—
I in them and you in me.
Then they’ll be mature in this oneness,
And give the godless world evidence that you’ve sent me and
Loved them In the same way you’ve loved me.
John 17:20-23, The Message
Jesus prayed that we would be one and that we would be “mature in oneness.” Today as we pray for our unity in Jesus, ask the Spirit to live in us so that we will mature into unity.
To mature into unity means that we seek God first and then our desires. It’s called “maturity” because that means we have to focus first on God, not ourselves nor our interests and comfort.
The mature people I admire love Jesus and stay in covenant with each other.
Prayer:
Gracious God, We praise you that you have created us to be your covenant people, the Church. Draw all seekers of truth and righteousness to yourself. Guide us to life in your Spirit where we find ourselves tied to you by Jesus and tied to each other by the same Spirit. Make us One Church to serve the world for which you lived, died and rose in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.