Real Love

One of the last prayers Jesus prayed before his crucifixion was for you. Seriously. He had you on his mind when he was about to die.

‘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, 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

Did you get that? Jesus prayed for everyone who would ever believe. That includes you. Think about it. If this prayer was one of the last ones he prayed, it must have been a pretty big deal to him. What is he asking of us? He’s asking that christians be unified.

Does that mean we have to get along all the time? No. Churches are made up of a diverse group of people, so there are bound to be disagreements once in a while. That’s not the point of Jesus’ prayer. He wants us to love one another because it matters to the mission of the church. The best way to demonstrate that Jesus is real is to love one another.

Talk with God. Ask God to help you fulfill Jesus’ prayer request. Ask for patience and the ability to love other Christ-followers. Pray by name for people you have a hard time loving, and God will help you love those who you currently find unlovable because you’ll know that God loves the unlovable in you.

Go to him in prayer, repentance and faith. Let’s do it together.

Rev. Seth