Unity

Flipping through an old music collection of songs for worship, I came across a hymn under the subject “Unity”. Maybe you know it:

“We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord, We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord, And we pray that all unity may one day be restored. And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” ¹

I ponder this. Is my love for God and others so evident and bold, that it would be recognized that it is because I am a Christian? Do I live as though I am one in the Lord with other Christians?

Jesus, your Spirit is the great uniter. Will you fill me with holy curiosity about people who are different from me? I wonder what beautiful tapestry you can create by weaving together our stories.

Help me to leave behind assumptions, preconceived notions, and to ask good questions and listen attentively to responses. May I be slow to offense, but instead have a heart of humility and patience.

We ask for transformations, the greatest of miracles, for your light to break through the hardest of hearts. And soften my own heart in kindness and openness…help me see people the way you see them, and love them the way you love them.

Thank you for writing a unique and beautiful story for us, your story of our redemption. Through unity, may your name and your glory be proclaimed, Lord Jesus. Amen.

1 “They’ll Know We Are Christians”, Peter Scholtes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugQwh-phnZY