John 17:11 “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name – the name you gave me – so that they may be one as we are one.”

We tend to focus on verse 21 of this chapter as Jesus praying for unity among the believers who are His Body, but this verse sheds important light on how that comes about. We put so little emphasis on the Name of the Lord, really, when Jesus says here that it is what enables unity. In practical terms, when we focus on assorted doctrines we are very unlikely to have a high degree of unity. However, when we focus on the Name of the only Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we can enjoy sweet unity that amazes even those involved, not to mention outside observers. Interestingly, that is often an unintended result of persecution. When proclaiming the Name of Jesus puts us in grave danger, anyone else who is willing to undergo that risk for the sake of that Name is our brother indeed, whatever else we might disagree on. Ever since I first read it I have liked C. S. Lewis’ statement that when we get to heaven, one thing we can be sure of is that we will all discover that we had been wrong somewhere. Unity in the Body of Christ doesn’t depend on doctrine, it depends on the Person and Name of our Lord, our Head. It’s not that doctrine isn’t important, but that we must not let doctrine come between us and someone that Jesus says is our brother.

I’ve just returned from a 3-day meeting that certainly ignored denominational lines. Many of the people there had deep scars that had been inflicted by those who should have been brothers, but they let the love and grace of God flow over and through them. It was a blessed time indeed. I am involved in the Ministers Fellowship in this city, and barriers are steadily getting lower, though the enemy isn’t giving up. I am to walk in grace and love myself, letting the Name and Spirit of the Lord bind me to the other parts of His Body, as many and as varied as they are. I am certainly not to ignore my own commission, but I am not to denigrate a brother or sister whose commission is a bit different. I am to be open as a channel of grace and blessing to all, but especially to those of God’s family. (Galatians 6:10)

Father, thank You for all the blessings of the past few days, and that I’m home again. Thank You for all that You did in strengthening ties between me and other members of the Body of Christ. I pray that the unity that You desire and that Jesus prayed for would be manifested more and more, demonstrating to the world that we are indeed Christ’s disciples, (John 13:35) drawing many to salvation, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!