Perfectly One

From John 17

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
    This passage is one of the most personal ones in scripture.  This is Jesus praying for me and you specifically.  He says He wants to be one with us, “perfectly one”.  Why? So that the world may know that God sent Jesus and loves us.                                                                                 
    So what does this mean to me?  What does it look like to be one with Jesus?  It means your life looks different than everyone around you.  It means your conversations lead to sharing your testimony.  It means your mouth is not so foul that you can’t still eat with it.  It means you care about others, no matter the color of their skin or where they were born.  It means you give until it hurts and you are not sure if you will be able to go on vacation this summer.  It means you want to see empty chairs filled with more worshippers, especially younger ones, because you want this church to be here in 50 more years.  It means you don’t whine and complain about things that are not contrary to scripture or morally wrong.  It means we care so much about each other that we can allow differences…as long as our focus is on Jesus and bringing more worshippers to Him.
    Now tell me, what are you going to do with this information?  Will you go to work tomorrow and listen to those dirty jokes or will you share the gospel with that one co-worker God has been urging you to speak to?

It’s time to take your relationship with Jesus to a more intimate level.  You can be a fan of what God is doing here and around the world.  You can come here every Sunday and watch Him do His work.  You can read about all the things He has done throughout history in the bible.  You can have friends that know Him well.  But until you get personal with Jesus there will be no power in it.  It will be no different than me being a fan of Cam Newton.  I know him, but he does not know me.  Does Jesus know you?  Or will you hear on judgment day “Depart from me, I never knew you.”