Day 335 Together as One

 

12/1/2025

"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those

who will believe in Me through their words;

that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and

I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the

world may believe that You sent Me."

John 17:20-21

 

When Jesus was praying for His disciples, He spoke about the relationship that He and His Father had together, desiring that their relationship would include the disciples, and not only His disciples, but for believers in Christ who would come from the teaching the disciples would do, trickling down through the generations to all who believe. Salvation would come first to the Jews, then the Gentiles, and it would spread world wide, which it did. They set the world upside down. 

Many times I have spoken about Christ's existence since the beginning of time, and the relationship shared with Father - Son - Holy Spirit. The unity they share is what Jesus and His Father want to have with all followers. Again, I offer the example of the Russian nesting dolls where one smaller doll is place inside the next, then that one is placed inside the next until all dolls occupy one. There are two thoughts about the spiritual meaning suggested through these dolls, known in Russia as matryoshka dolls: "They are a traditional representation of the mother carrying a child within her and can be seen as a representation of a chain of mothers carrying on the family legacy through the child in their wombs." The second: "They are used to illustrate the unity of body, soul, mind, heart, and spirit." I see the dolls as a simple representation of myself as the smaller doll, fitted inside Jesus Christ, who in turn is fitted within the larger doll who is God, the Father. Jesus said "as He is in me, I in Him, and He in the Father," so this object lesson clarifies things in my thinking about the relationship that God our Father and Jesus Christ our Messiah wants to have with us. I think visual aids, especially when they are "hands on," do have a purpose. Perhaps this is the reason Jesus used parables for teaching and training His disciples by offering truths based on ordinary subjects or objects or ways of life that the people would understand. The Pharisees caught on faster, I believe, than Jesus' followers, especially when He was referring to them. As one would suspect, the religious leaders responded in anger because of their jealousy, but others listening either did not understand or accepted His message, received it into their hearts, and were transformed. I often wonder how many of those who flocked after Jesus, listening to His messages, being fed, healed, delivered, were among those in the crowds at Jesus' trial, manipulated by the Pharisees and religious leaders, shouted "Crucify Him!" The Parable of the Sower and the Seeds and the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares bring to mind those who could be manipulated, as opposed to those who eagerly received Jesus and desired the Kingdom of God. How easily people are swayed by the enemy's tares or snares today!

Many negative thoughts and conversation (gossip) come to mind when we see professing Christian leaders, worship leaders, or pastors in active ministry fall from grace. Sometimes the truth is not discovered until they die, and then, someone betrayed or dishonored will step into the light and bring the betrayal to light. The Bible states clearly that when someone is in error, we are to guide them lovingly back into the family of God. We have been given much grace by God, and Jesus died for all our sins, so He expects us to do likewise by extending grace and mercy. The Scriptures also explain that if one does not return to Christ, then they are allowed to go about their way, still loved, just allowed to pursue their sinful inclinations elsewhere. It should be a time of great grief. I do not approve of the media airing someone's problems callously, especially when the source reporting is an evangelical ministry. The Bible says to go to your brother in private, and try to lead them back. As a group leader, I have witnessed the harm it causes a young believer who has put their trust in a pastor, to find out distressing news after they die. I was asked once how I dealt with such situations, how my faith remained strong. My response is that I keep my eyes on Jesus, and although I may follow a ministry or a pastor, I have only one God, and we are all imperfect and capable of making wrong decisions. How well I understand. I have received much grace and mercy from my Father, and I intend to offer the same. The closer I walk with the Lord, the more compassion and mercy I have. The word says,  “Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment,” (James 2:13). 

Go and do likewise so that the light of Christ shines brightly to a hurting world.