Mature in this Oneness...

I feel like I've blogged about this subject before...

I was reading this passage this morning and it just blew me away: (emphasis mine)

John 17:20-23 (The Message)

I'm praying not only for them

But also for those who will believe in me

Because of them and their witness about me.

The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind---

Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,

So they might be one heart and mind with us.

Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.

The same glory you gave me, I gave them,

So they'll be as unified and together as we are---

I in them and you in me.

Then they'll be mature in this oneness,

And give the godless world evidence

That you've sent me and loved them

In the same way you've loved me.

I don't know how many bazillions of times I must have read this in the past... but I don't think it really ever meant much to me.

To paraphrase a paraphrase (lol):

Jesus is praying for us and everyone that will eventually come to him. He says that his goal is for all of us as The Church to be unified, to be of one heart and mind, 1st with eachother, which will in turn facilitate The Church's being of one heart and mind with God. AND that the ultimate outcome of that is that the world will believe The Gospel! They will believe that God sent his son for them... That he loves THEM the same way he loves his Son!

I am sad right now and a little overwhelmed, but also in awe of the power which God gives to His Bride, The Church... It's so amazing. It's so hard to be unified. It's so hard to submit to other believers, to be open and vulnerable with them, to teach them and learn from them, to listen and agree, to stand up for what's right, but to back down from the unimportant for the sake of oneness... This is all of our relationships within The Church! (and maybe even with the world) It's hard to believe that with that kind of maturity (disguised as weakness and humility?), the world sees Jesus in us... and believes that our Savior LOVES THEM.

What are we saying to the world when we are not unified? When we fuss about stupid stuff... minor little issues and points of contention that let's face it, just don't matter at all... When we try to one-up each other, or undermine each other, or when we flat out ignore each other?

No wonder so many people have a hard time thinking Jesus is legitimate and loves them. No wonder I've had a hard time with that! lol. What an enormous responsibility... and to think He's speaking of how to live our whole lives... I just can't believe I never saw this before.

I love how God is waiting and ready to water the flowers just as the ground is starting to get a bit dry and they wave their little wilted leaves at Him.

I am completely unworthy.

And utterly lucky.

To be in the shelter of my Father's arms

protected from the lightning that comes from those same Hands.