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Oneness, March 19
And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may
be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be
made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent
me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
John 17:22, 23
.
What attainments are there presented for the Christian’s endeavor, but
how far short are our practices. Were our practices in harmony with the
command of our Lord, the result would be glorious. He says, “Neither pray
I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their
word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that
they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me”
(
John 17:20, 21
)....
Jesus did not pray for that which was not attainable by us, and if this unity
is possible, why do not those who are professed followers of Christ strive
more earnestly for this condition of grace? When we are one with Christ, we
shall be one with His followers. The great want of the soul is Jesus, the hope
of glory. Through the Holy Spirit this unity may be attained, and love for
the brethren will abound, and men will take knowledge of us that we have
been with Jesus and learned of Him. Our life will be a reflection of His holy
character. As believers in Him we shall represent His meekness of spirit,
His gentleness of demeanor. Individually the church of God must answer the
prayer of Christ till we all come into the unity of the Spirit.
What is it that causes dissension and discord? It is the result of walking
apart from Christ. At a distance from Him, we lose our love for Him, and
grow cold toward His followers. The farther the beams of light recede from
their center, the wider separated they become. Each believer is as a beam of
light from Christ the Sun of righteousness. The more closely we walk with
Christ, the center of all love and light, the greater will be our affection for
His light-bearers. When the saints are drawn close to Christ, they must of
necessity be drawn close to each other, for the sanctifying grace of Christ
will bind their hearts together. You cannot love God and yet fail to love your
brethren.—
The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, 1048, 1049
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