“Oneness with Jesus leads to oneness with other Jesus followers.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – September 19, 2021
After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. 1 Samuel 18:1
Being one in spirit means you have reached a level of relational intimacy that few obtain. Loyalty, generosity, love, service, and depth of communication reach levels that are rare in relationships. For intimacy to grow, it is imperative that we get beyond the surface of self-indulgence, and move toward selfless acts of service. People become one in spirit when there is no score-keeping. There is no scorecard charting the rights and wrongs that have been committed. You know the other accepts you, and they love you as they love themselves.
One in spirit means you are comfortable with one another’s company. There is a peace that penetrates your presence. Distractions diminish in importance when you experience oneness in spirit. There is an unspoken loyalty that leavens the relationship of those who are one in spirit. When one or the other is caught in the crossfire of life’s events, each knows his friend is close by to help.
Oneness in spirit means you hurt when your friend hurts. When he feels the barbs of rejection, you feel rejected; When she is the brunt of another’s anger, you are taken aback by the anger; When he is jarred by jealousy, you feel the pain of jealousy; When she is ravished by disease, you are available any time. There is an energized empathy that engulfs the relationships of those who are one in spirit. It is not a sentimental sensitivity, but one that is based on the sensitivity of our Savior.
The oneness of spirit around the Spirit of God is the most meaningful. Jesus is the best facilitator for real relationships. He is the glue that brings hearts together in oneness for what’s best for God’s Kingdom. Christ is the catalyst for unity around what’s really important. His heart is for us to pray for unity around His will. Jesus has an intimate effect on friends who fear and love Him. Oneness around our one and only Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, brings us close together.
His Spirit binds the spirits of believers together in a bond the world does not understand. As we grow closer to Christ, we grow closer to Christ’s followers. We are able to have oneness in relationships with those who are one with Christ. So, seek to go deep with those who are deep in the Lord.
Stay one with your Savior so you are positioned to be one in spirit with others who love Jesus. Oneness with the Lord means we are prayed up, confessed up, and cleaned up. We have abandoned ourselves to the Almighty in anticipation of His wants and desires for our life. There’s oneness with Christ because we sincerely seek to serve Him out of love and gratitude.
Oneness with Jesus leads to oneness with one another. Unity with the Unifier compels us into oneness of spirit with others who are unified in Christ. Therefore, pray for those God brings your way. Pray for them to experience oneness with the Lord and, as He leads, oneness in spirit with you. Get beyond the surface with your spouse, family, and friends. Go after God and each other in oneness of spirit.
Jesus prayed, “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one” (John 17:11b).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, grow my heart and my friends’ hearts closer to You, so we grow closer to each other, through Christ’s love and in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
Whom can I pray for daily for the next 30 days, for our hearts to be unified around Christ?
Related Reading
Psalm 32:2; Isaiah 57:15; 1 Corinthians 6:17; Philippians 1:27, 2:2
Worship Resource
Pat Barrett, Jon Reddick & Franni Cash Cain: By The Spirit
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