On Unity

"One hundred worshipers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become “unity” conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship. Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified." - A.W. Tozer

My brother-in-law posted this in his facebook status, and it rang true to me.  I thought, "Hey- I know about that.  I am experiencing that!"  Living and working with people is a challenge, let alone living and working with people who come from a different country!  Our team meets each weekday morning for prayer.  Usually someone shares a short biblical reflection, and then we pray together.  Some pray in English, some in Spanish, all pray silently in their own hearts.  Our Peruvians do not know English, and most of the Americans cannot understand every Spanish word that is spoken, especially in prayer.  But we join together with one heart and in the same Spirit.  It is God who is uniting, as we individually seek Him. . .together.  Having different language and culture is a blessing in the process of creating unity- because it clearly cannot be done without the influence of Christ.  From the beginning of this process Chad and I have prayed for unity for our team- knowing that it will only occur through Christ.  We are so thankful for the way God has moved and continues to move within our team. We don't want the unity that comes from hanging out together, we want unity that comes from the presence of Christ in our lives!  We are not perfect.  Our team members and their partnerships are not perfect (including their leaders!)  We are under constant attack and must not forget our vulnerability when we are not walking constantly with Christ.  We know there are many people praying for us and our team and we do not take that lightly.  We need that covering, and we are grateful for those who are faithfully lifting us up in prayer.  Continue to pray that each of us will know Christ more each day, that we will repent quickly when we sin and that our hearts will be changed so that Christ will be able to display Himself more and more powerfully within us.  Why? So that others may know Him.  

John 17:18-23

"As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word;

that they may all be one; even 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 sent Me.The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one;I in them and You in Me, 

that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me,

 and loved them, even as You have loved Me."