Why Unity Matters: The Heart of Jesus

from Prayers for a Nation on Youversion

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. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 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.

John 17:21‭-‬23

In one of the few recorded prayers we have of Jesus, He prayed specifically for unity of His future followers: “I pray that they will all be one …” (John 17:21). Why did He want that? He went on to pray, “May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me” (John 17:23).

First Timothy 2:1–4 indicates that God’s desire is for all people to be saved. And that happens best—according to Scripture—when His people are in unity, working, fellowshipping, and praying together.

Looking historically at revival and spiritual awakening in the United States, we find that a key element that launched those moves of God was unity. Churches started praying together, seeking God for their communities and nation. In the prayer meeting revival of the late 1850s, believers from many different churches started meeting in noontime prayer meetings across cities, not caring about the “tribes” with which they shouldn’t mingle. That had a common goal and vision.

God is at work to tear down those walls that divide the denominational (and nondenominational) tribes for the sake of the gospel. Pastors need to be less concerned about what intermingling might do to theological purity and be more concerned with what unity will do for the sake of lost souls.

For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Rom. 12:4‭-‬5

Give thanks to the Father: I praise and thank you, Lord Jesus, that in you “we are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other” (Romans 12:5)

Listen for the Holy Spirit’s prompting for confession: Forgive me, Lord, for not crossing barriers to love beyond my comfort zone; extend your life and love through me to those unlike me.

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

1 Corinthians 1:10

Join Jesus in prayers of petition: Father God, help us to keep our focus on eternal priorities, that in them we might “all agree and that there be no divisions among [us]” (1 Corinthians 1:10).

And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.

John 17:11

Proclaim promises from His Word: Holy Spirit, make my life an answer to the high-priestly prayer of Jesus: “Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are” (John 17:11).

Engage with other Jesus-followers in a lifestyle of prayer: Look for ways to pray with pastors and believers from other tribes.