{"id":25820,"date":"2020-08-20T15:28:55","date_gmt":"2020-08-20T19:28:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=25820"},"modified":"2020-08-20T21:01:22","modified_gmt":"2020-08-21T01:01:22","slug":"worship-wednesday-on-unity-with-one-voice-steven-curtis-chapman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=25820","title":{"rendered":"Worship Wednesday – On Unity – With One Voice – Steven Curtis Chapman"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Photo Credit: Mosaic Church<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI pray not only for these [His disciples], but also for those who believe in me through their word.<\/span><\/span> May they all be one,<\/span> as you, Father, are in me and I am in you.<\/span> May they also be<\/span> in us, so that the world may believe you sent me.<\/span><\/span> I have given them the glory<\/span> you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one.<\/span><\/span><\/em> I am in them and you are in me,<\/span> so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved<\/span> <\/em>them as you have loved me.”<\/em> – Jesus – John 17:20-23<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Most everyone around the world probably knows the US is embroiled this year in a severe battle for the Presidency.<\/p>\n

The various news networks and social media sources broadcast our biases. One candidate or the other is blamed for the condition of our country – whether the sitting president or the party or person of the candidate making his bid for the office.<\/p>\n

We align ourselves as the Church in America. On one side of the argument or the other. Some will take the less gnarly position of a third candidate or just not vote this year.<\/p>\n

Here’s the insight God gave me this week. When people I deeply love and respect pull for a candidate that I can’t abide or when they hear me out on my decision so different from theirs, we find ourselves at an impasse.<\/p>\n

I will not influence them nor will they me. Our reasoning is human, and neither of us can know for sure we are right or we are wrong.<\/p>\n

What matters more? That we continue in the unity of love together.<\/p>\n

The last night Jesus spent on earth, before His crucifixion, He prayed the exquisite prayer we find in John 17<\/a>.\u00a0 It was an intimate discourse with His Father, and thankfully we are privy to it thanks to the Holy Spirit-inspired Gospel of the Apostle John<\/a>. In His prayer, Jesus prayed for Himself; He prayed for his disciples, and He prayed for all believers.<\/p>\n

Jesus prayed that we would be one as He is one with His Father. One in the unity of love. That He prayed this before His death for us demonstrated how much it mattered to Him.<\/p>\n

How much this unity must matter to us!<\/p>\n

In David Guzik<\/a>‘s commentary <\/a>on John 17, he states: “The unity Jesus prayed for among His people has a pattern. Even as the Father and the Son are one yet are not the same, we do not expect that genuine Christian unity will mean uniformity or unity of structure. It will mean unity of spirit, unity of heart, unity of purpose, and unity of destiny.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Guzik also quotes Charles Spurgeon<\/a> on unity as different from uniformity: \u201cBeloved, those in whom Christ lives are not uniform, but one. Uniformity may be found in death, but this unity is life. Those who are quite uniform may yet have no love to each other, while those who differ widely may still be truly and intensely one. Our children are not uniform, but they make one family.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Some will say the issue of who Christians can morally choose as our US President requires some order of uniformity…and so it does. However, the division between us in this matter should sound an alarm in our spirits.<\/p>\n

This is not what Jesus wanted for us.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is in the midst of a difference that we have our golden opportunity. When everything is going well and we are all standing around in a nice little circle, there is not much to be seen by the world. But when we come to the place where there is a real difference, and we exhibit uncompromised principles but at the same time observable love, then there is something that the world can see, something they can use to judge that these really are Christians, and that Jesus has indeed been sent by the Father.<\/strong>\u201d<\/em> – Francis Schaeffer<\/a><\/p>\n

We may differ on how we see “compromise”. That is its own struggle, but we cannot enjoin that struggle with whether we can love one another.<\/p>\n

We love each other, because we are His. No matter our political party. No matter the outcome of this election.<\/p>\n

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.\u201d – <\/em>Jesus – <\/em><\/strong>John 13:35<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Christian singer\/songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman<\/a> published a song many years ago entitled With One Voice<\/em><\/a>. This is our highest call.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Let’s worship<\/a> together.<\/p>\n

We come together with a holy purpose
\nWe come together for the highest cause
\nWe speak one language from a heart of worship
\nGathered to bring a song to the world
\nFor Your glory<\/p>\n

With one voice we will sing
\nEvery tribe and every tongue
\nBrings a harmony
\nWith one voice we will bring
\nHeaven\u2019s beautiful melody down to this earth
\nAs we sing to our King
\nWith one voice<\/p>\n

Oceans divide us
\nBut we sing together
\nNow what defines us is our love of You
\nFrom every nation and across all borders
\nGathered to bring a song to the world
\nFor Your glory<\/p>\n

With one voice we will sing
\nEvery tribe and every tongue
\nBrings a harmony
\nWith one voice we will bring
\nHeaven\u2019s beautiful melody down to this earth
\nAs we sing to our King
\nWith one voice<\/p>\n

Come on come on and join the song
\nOur God our God is on the throne
\nCome on come on and join the song
\nHallelujah hallelujah<\/p>\n

Come on come on and join the song
\nOur God our God is on the throne
\nCome on come on and join the song
\nHallelujah<\/p>\n

Hallelujah, our God reigns
\nLet us all rejoice<\/p>\n

With one voice we will bring
\nHeaven\u2019s beautiful melody down to this earth
\nAs we sing, sing to our King
\nWith one voice
\nWith one voice<\/p>\n

Hallelujah, our God reigns
\nLet us all rejoice
\nSing hallelujah
\nSing His praise
\nLet us all rejoice<\/p>\n

Sing hallelujah, our God reigns
\nLet us all rejoice
\nSing hallelujah
\nSing His praise
\nLet us all rejoice*<\/p>\n

In closing, one of my other favorite passages in the Gospel of John is John 6:68<\/a>. Jesus was weary with the struggle of public ministry, dealing with the contempt of the religious leaders of the day and the fickleness of followers who came and went. In a moment of weakness (human but without sin), Jesus turned to His twelve disciples and asked if they wanted to leave also.<\/p>\n

Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom will we go?<\/strong> You have the words of eternal life.” – <\/em>John 6:68<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

We know as believers, no matter our politics or our preferences, we are transfixed by the person of Jesus Christ. To know His life, His teaching, and His love…no one else…no place else would satisfy.<\/p>\n

Our days and destinies are linked with Him and with each other. Our hearts are knit together. Everything else will fall away in the end. We are His. He is ours. We are meant to live in that reality…even (especially) in this season.<\/p>\n

*Lyrics to With One Voice<\/em><\/a> – Songwriters Steven Curtis Chapman & Matt Redman<\/p>\n

YouTube Video – Story Behind the Song With One Voice<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

John 17 – Jesus’ Great Prayer<\/em> – David Guzik<\/a><\/p>\n

Unity in Christ<\/em> – Charles Spurgeon<\/a><\/p>\n