DO YOU WANT TO BE RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF GOD'S WILL?

As I sat in the headquarters of the Bible Society of Costa Rica (Sociedad Bíblica de Costa Rica) last Saturday with leaders from the Evangelical Alliance and just feet away from the first Bible ever introduced to Costa Rica, my eyes were drawn to the centerpieces on the table. Each centerpiece had the vision for the Alliance's work in their nation: 

A Church united in love and purpose, led by the Spirit, is the most transformative force for the salvation of the world. 


I couldn't agree more based on what I've witnessed in Costa Rica the past two trips and on my travel around the world. God's Church is powerfully coming together and the results are astounding! Are you aligning with God's heart and purposes in this hour? There's no better place to be than in the center of His will!

This has always been God's heart to see His people and Church powerfully coming together in love and purpose. In the famous passage of scripture in John 17 called the High Priestly Prayer Jesus is interceding for himself, his disciples, and for all future believers. He says some profound things in verses 20-23 that can radically recenter our lives:

“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. 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."


Here are three key things that Jesus brought to light that can powerfully align our lives with God's purposes in this hour:

1. WE SHOULD ENDEAVOR TO BE ONE JUST AS JESUS AND THE FATHER ARE ONE. I believe there are two key aspects to this charge-- 

a. First, we should not seek to separate ourselves from other Biblically sound churches, denominations, or people especially when they are not exactly like us. The history of the American Church is that we separate over minor issues and preferences as opposed to striving for unity around the major, non-negotiable issues. JESUS DOES NOT WANT A DISCONNECTED CHURCH AND BODY. I believe pride and self-righteousness has caused many believers to separate themselves with a "we are the best way" or "we're the ones doing it right" mentality. In short, unity takes humility and we must be intentional about seeking unity. 

b. Two, we should seek to actively restore relationships with other believers that are fractured and broken. JESUS DOES NOT WANT A HURTING, OFFENDED, FRAGMENTED, DISJOINTED CHURCH. Jesus died so that we could be forgiven and restored back to a right relationship with Him. He then told us to forgive others and seek reconciliation with others in the same way that He forgave us. We need to take Jesus' commands seriously and not just brush them aside as if they are not important. Forgiveness and reconciliation are at the very center of God's mission. 

2. GOD'S GLORY IS REVEALED WHEN WE WALK IN LOVE AND UNITY. When a broken, selfish, and hurting world sees the Church walking together in love and unity it reveals the goodness of God in a powerful way. Do you want God's glory in your life and ministry? Then seek to walk in love and unity. 

3. PEOPLE ARE DRAWN TO JESUS AND GOD'S KINGDOM IS ADVANCED WHEN WE WALK IN UNITY. Jesus gives us this powerful reality in verse 23, "Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them." When our hearts are to see the world come to know Jesus, then the best way to facilitate this is by committing to unity. 

All over the world God's Church is increasingly coming together as a powerful witness to the world. Don't you want to be right in the center of what He is doing? I know I do. If so, then be intentional with making the unity of His body a priority in your life. You'll never go wrong. 

Next
Next

How to Move Beyond Pain, Failure, and Brokenness