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April 10 -- John 17:20-26

“My prayer is not for [my disciples] alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” –John 17:20-21 (NIV)

Today’s reading encompasses the final two petitions in Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer, and both are for unity. He closed His prayer by asking the Father to make all believers one, just as He and the Father are one. Then, He asked that all believers be made one with Him and the Father. This is quite a prayer! All believers—then and now—are invited into the beautiful selfless love and mutual self-sacrifice that is the very nature of the Trinity!

Jesus’ petition that we be made one as a community of believers is the foundation of Paul’s description of the Body of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 12), and Jesus’ petition that we would be made one with God happens when believers, loved and redeemed by Father and Son, are indwelt with the Holy Spirit and guided into our roles in the Body of Christ. Because of what Christ has done, we can have unity with God and each other!

In previous readings, we have seen how the Persons of the Trinity give each other glory. At the end of His prayer, Jesus said that He shares that glory with us as well (v. 22) so that we may be unified, and in doing Jesus’ will (loving God and others), we give glory to God. Living out this love in unified community will be a testimony of Christ to the world. As the old hymn says, “They will know we are Christians by our love.” God’s love for us will be reflected in our love for each other, and the world will take notice.

Thank God for accepting you and inviting you into His love, unifying you with other believers and with Him. Spend some time talking to Him today about how you can live out this love in your relationships with Him and others.

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My name is Melissa Anderson. I'm a spiritual director and ordained pastor who loves God, people, and words. You can read more about me by clicking the button below.

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