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20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” (John 17:20-26 NIV)
Happy and Blessed Monday, dear Friend! May we continue to pray for one another; praying for the Hamilton Family as they grieve the loss of Mr. Dick Hamilton. Rev. Dana was taken to the ER after Dick's graveside and it was determined she should be transferred to a heart hospital in Austin. That's the last word I got, so please pray she is well. Prayers for the families of 42 persons affiliated with the Global Methodist Church in Nigeria, Africa, murdered by an Islamic terrorist group. Pray a prayer of gratitude for The Rev. Scott Bradford who underwent kidney stone surgery on Saturday and was released home on Sunday. May his recovery be comfortable and rapid.
Imagine churches having names that told a story; make it an honest story, like, I don't know; The Church of the Perpetual Fight? The Church of the Eternal Judgment? The Don't Sit in My Pew Methodist Church! The First Church of Eternal Stewardship Campaigns? Or, I as I would joke with pastors when offering them a church in my district; "It's a church with few miles on it, used only on Sundays, and is owned by two little old ladies...." Ouch! I write this because Jesus is stressing unity among believers. Nothing more painful than a worship space where people do not get along nor agree on anything. Jesus says that He wants all of them (us) to be one, just as Jesus and the Father are one. If we can present ourselves as united, Jesus states, then the world may just believe that we have been sent by God. And Jesus shared His glory with us so that we may be united in that glory; further evidence that we are from God. And Jesus stresses the importance of love. Love is the foundation of unity in my opinion. And whoever does not love is not really from God. Apply that where you will.
This passage draws us into the heart of Jesus' final prayer before His arrest. It’s a prayer not just for His disciples then, but for every future believer—including us. He prays not for safety, success, or even courage, but for unity.
In a world often marked by division—families torn by politics, churches split over preference, societies polarized by ideologies—Jesus speaks into the chaos with a plea: “That all of them may be one.” This isn’t a superficial call for agreement but a deeply spiritual unity that mirrors the relationship between the Father and the Son.
Think of the Trinity like a perfectly choreographed dance—each person of the Godhead moving in love, purpose, and harmony. Jesus desires that same rhythm for His people. When we live in that kind of unity, it becomes our most powerful witness. “Then the world will know…”
We often think the world needs more compelling arguments, bigger churches, or trendier services. But Jesus said the world will recognize Him through our oneness. That’s a challenge. Unity doesn’t mean uniformity; it means holding Christ at the center, even when we don’t all look, vote, or worship exactly the same.
Jesus ends this section of prayer with longing: that we would see His glory and know the depth of God’s love. That’s what sustains unity—not just commitment to each other, but confidence in how much we are loved.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for including us in Your prayer. You saw us even then—our struggles, our hopes, our disagreements—and still prayed that we might be one. Teach us to love one another in ways that reflect Your heart. Break down the walls we’ve built, and build within us a deep desire to live in unity. May our love for each other point others to You. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Let someone see the love of God in you today—not by how loud you speak, but by how deeply you live out the unity Jesus prayed for.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
