by Kathi Pelton
The prayer in John 17:21 is one of my life verses because I want to see the longing of Jesus fulfilled.
“…that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
God created us to enjoy the riches of oneness with God and with one another. There are such beautiful blessings found in unity but first we must receive the invitation to “be in Him” and become a true representation of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Because we were created for this oneness and unity it makes it all the more painful and disorienting when we are misunderstood , misrepresented and mistreated within the body of Christ. People write to me all the time telling me the stories of the heartache and pain they have experienced within the family of God. It truly breaks my heart that we have yet to see the prayer of Jesus fulfilled (out of John 17:21) and yet I have hope because I see a remnant rising up!
The truth is that we must first come into the oneness that the Father, Son and Spirit share before we will experience that with one another. There is a yielding to “oneness with Christ” that causes our souls to heal and align with His truth and His ways.
Today, a friend who is going through one of these “family trials”, said to me that she realized that the warfare and pain of betrayal was being “exalted” above Jesus in her mind and emotions. That is always what the enemy seeks to do! He wants to rob God of worship by robbing us of our focus on Him. He also wants to rob Jesus of the answer to His prayer.
Lastly, the enemy loves to divide family because it is in those divisions that men most readily begin to erect walls against intimacy and love. Family betrayal is the worst kind of pain. Yet God says that we are to “count it all joy when we face various trials.”
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4
These trials test our faith but produce the very things that we need to “lack nothing.” They make us like Jesus who lacks nothing! He, too, was misunderstood, misrepresented and mistreated but His love never wavered and His walked it out perfectly. His truth infuriated the Pharisees but His love attracted the sinner. May we become like Him.
It is true that there will be some people who claim to be a brother or sister in Christ but even when you speak the truth in absolute love, they will still accuse you, misrepresent you and slander you. Even so, you count it all joy to pick up your cross and follow Him. In those times you must shake the dust off and move forward without compromising truth or love. We must please God even when we are misunderstood by men.
So, if you have been facing trials that test your faith then count it all joy and know that what is being produced in you will cause you to lack nothing! You are becoming like Jesus as you continue to exult Him over the warfare and accusations.
He is worth it all!
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