Unity
There has been an alarming amount of news coverage surrounding the protest of the NFL players against racism and police brutality. The country is divided, and it is worth addressing. I refuse to comment or give my opinion concerning the protest because frankly, I don't think my opinion on the subject matters very much. I do believe if people from both sides of the argument sought out to take action rather than post their views or share viral videos on the topic we would see more unity in our nation.
So how do we take action? What are our marching orders from scripture? Unity is not achieved by how we connect with each other, but how we connect with God. If we seek to strengthen our relationship with our creator and obey his commandments, the way we interact with others with change. When we see each person equal as God’s creation rather than what physically differentiates us, we see their importance through the eyes of the Gospel. Let’s see what Jesus’ desire was concerning unity.
John 17:20-23
“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.
Jesus Christ prayed for unity among His people. His desire was for people to love each other as He loved them. Our love in action reflects who we are and who we serve. Jesus wants us to love each other unconditionally not so people will see THAT we love, but WHY we love. We love because Christ first loved us. Obedience is love and in turn, is WORSHIP!