I sometimes forget how important our connection to one another is as followers of Jesus Christ. The reality is that we are bound together by Christ’s blood — there’s no stronger bond than that! And we are bound together by a shared covenant to Christ through this congregation!
Don’t we all forget that sometimes? We’re connected in so many other places … work, school, teams, and other organizations. But I believe the church is the most important connection we have. This is important because we will only fulfill God’s dream for us when we become one with his body!
Oneness is God’s dream for us!
Read Ephesians 4.
Jesus once said to his followers, "Stay joined to me, and I will stay joined to you. Just as a branch cannot produce fruit unless it stays joined to the vine, you cannot produce fruit unless you stay joined to me. I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me." (John 15.4-5)
And one of Jesus’ final prayers (if not the last one) with his followers, he prayed, "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father–that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me." (John 17.20-21)
Oneness is God’s dream for us!
Are you as connected to God and to his body as you could be? I challenge you to take a step this week to strengthen your connection both to God and to the people of this church. Pray each morning, "Lord, remind me of my connection to you and to you body. Help me to honor it today!"
Imagine what kind of community/family we would be if we all protected the unity we have in Jesus Christ. Imagine what kind of place we would be as we become more and more one!
Read Philippians 2.1-8.