“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. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me.”

John 17:22-23
The Bible gives us the words of Jesus’ prayer to His Father shortly before He died on the cross. One of the things He prayed for was that believers then and through the ages would be one, that their unity would speak loudly to the world of who He is.

If you’ve ever worked together with others on a project when everyone was entirely “on the same page” the whole time, you know how remarkable that is. Team unity is a human reflection of what Jesus was saying.

The 9/11 terrorist attacks from 20 years ago had a way of creating unity. This was seen writ large in Gander, Newfoundland, the small Canadian town which took in thousands of passengers whose flights had been re-routed there for safety reasons. After 21 years as Gander’s mayor, Claude Elliot retired in 2017, noting that “how our people came through on 9/11 is one of the greatest moments in my tenure as mayor.” It was the complete unity of the citizens that shone brightly in kindness and compassion.

Seek unity among believers. It will go out like a beacon in the world.



Scripture Focus

John 17:20-23

Insight

The quotation is from the September 8, 2017, USA Today article by Katharine Lackey titled, “Retiring Gander Mayor Takes Pride in Town’s 9/11 Response.”

Bible In A Year

  • Isaiah 16-17
  • Psalm 79
  • John 20

RENEW Your Anchor Subscription Today