“I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in me through their word. May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me. I have given them the glory you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me, so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me.”
John 17: 20-23
This passage details a portion of Jesus’ prayer to the Father the night before he was executed. One of his most vulnerable human moments is miraculously recorded in the pages of history for us, and the subject is unity.
If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably been tempted toward division far more times than you’ve been tempted toward unity. Maybe you’ve even caused or embraced division. It’s part of our sinful nature to divide ourselves, to look for ways to differentiate and alienate and judge. But as we can see in the passage above, this was not Christ’s desire or plan for the church. Jesus uses the example of his one-ness with the Father to express his desire for all believers to be one with the Father and one with each other, all for the sake of the gospel!
This call to unity is reiterated over and over throughout the New Testament. Clearly, it’s something that people in the early church needed to work on, and the challenge continues for us today. This isn’t something that is optional for us or something to do when it feels comfortable or suits our interests. We are commanded to love and care for the brothers and sisters who look and live differently than us, who might have different views than us on things like politics and healthcare. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are “completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me.” (Jn 17:23)
I’d encourage you to take a listen to the song “Make Us One” below and spend some time meditating on the lyrics and the accompanying Scripture passages. As we worship together as church family using this song, may we be challenged to glorify our God as we embrace the call to unity.
Looking for some music to enrich your personal worship throughout the week? Check our Calvary Worship Favorites playlist on Spotify. It’s an assortment of songs that we sing on the regular during our Sunday worship services.
If you want to get a taste of what we’ll be singing on any upcoming Sunday, check out our This Sunday At Calvary playlist. This list is updated weekly with the songs we’re planning to lead at the upcoming Sunday service.
Make Us One
One with the Father one with the Spirit
One with the Son of God
One with our sister one with our brother
One family by the blood
Make us one make us one
Your will be done make us one
One heart with heaven one mind connected
One body unified
Bind us together now and forever
Jesus be glorified
We confess all our offenses
We confess we've been afraid
We repent of all our pride
Let all the hurt be washed away
For all the wars and violence against our enemy
Come heal our land with Your great river
Restore the family and
Make us one make us one
Let Your kingdom come
Make us one make us one
CCLI Song # 7091349
Chris Quilala | Joshua Silverberg | Ran Jackson | Ricky Jackson
© 2017 Capitol CMG Amplifier (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Capitol CMG Genesis (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Jesus Culture Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Red Red Pop (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Tunes of Jesus Culture (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Be Essential Songs (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)
Modern Hymns and Sacred Songs (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)
Richmond Park Publishing (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License #702888
Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common. With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them. For there was not a needy person among them because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of what was sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet. This was then distributed to each person as any had need.
Acts 4:32-35 (CSB)
But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death. He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole building, being put together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you are also being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:13-22 (CSB)
Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel, not being frightened in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of destruction for them, but of your salvation—and this is from God.
Philippians 1:27-28 (CSB)
Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:15 (CSB)