Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- March 22, 2012
“But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.” 1 Corinthians 6:17
Oneness with God opens the door for intimacy and understanding. It is a place of peace and contentment. At a Christian’s conversion there is a recalibration to Christ—alignment with the Almighty is instituted. But the world, the flesh, and the devil tries to pull back believers from belief. Thus, wise Jesus followers seek unity around the Lord’s agenda.
God expects our behavior to bend toward His standards and expectations. Devout saints seek oneness in spirit with the Spirit of God. There is a prayerful and passionate pursuit of living out their holy position in Christ. Any affection in competition with Christ threatens to seduce a soul into insignificant pursuits. It can be an acute obsession with sports or a chronic sexual exploitation. But, eternal affections become one with God in spirit. We romance a relationship with Jesus, so we are not deceived to trust lost lovers.
“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.” John 17:20-21a
Your oneness with your heavenly Father is a positive indicator to the negative noise of unbelief. When God seekers see you seek the Lord in your pain and prosperity, they take notice. Unity around Christ causes others to come to Christ. However, you cannot be one with Jesus without being one with the others who bow in humble belief in Him.
Who are you out of fellowship with because of a lack of forgiveness in your relationship? When the Body of Christ is split in fractious debate, a lost world looks on in dismay. However, when Christians unify around the death and resurrection of Jesus—a unified spirit draws unbelievers by the Holy Spirit. So, pray for unity amongst diversity in your church to be a source of strength in your community. Indeed, prayer powers oneness with the Lord and others. What God joins together in unity of spirit draws a lost world to Jesus.
“May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” John 17:21b-23
How can I better bend toward eternal expectations and align with the Lord’s agenda?
Related Readings: Romans 6:19; Ephesians 4:5; Philippians 3:21; Hebrews 2:5, 18
Post/Tweet today: Unity around Christ causes others to come to Christ. #unity #evangelism
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Do you take the bible as the the inherent word of God without
any errors so many churches today try to change the word of
God and how we should interpet it such as the elca in 2009 at
there national convention?
This is definitely worth reading!