Oneness with the Father and Each Other

UV 1503/10000 Unity with God and Each Other
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 v 21

To be one with the Father was the privilege of the Son but Jesus shared that privilege with all who believe in Him. When we are united with Jesus by faith we also become one with the Father. We become interdependent with each other. Oneness or being united with God makes us not just partakers in His power but in His character and grace. God is infinite and all powerful. He is also holy and loving. These qualities begin to rub off on us too. God is invisible, invincible and indivisible. His presence with us is also invisible and His power in us is invincible. We cannot be divided or separated from the love of God.

When a branch of a certain plant is grafted onto another plant, it becomes part of that plant. Similarly, we who once were independent of God and distinct from Him have now become part of God through Jesus. The invisible, invincible and indivisible God begins to act through us so that others in this world may also become part of Him by believing and trusting in Jesus.

This uni-verse is in truth quite a powerful precept. It means that just as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are part of the Triune God, we too are part of the family of God. We are members of the same body – the body of Christ. We are re-made or wrought in the image of God. We should see each other as the restored image of God. We should honour each other and live in unity and love. The words that Jesus spoke are our food and sustenance like the sap of the mother plant on which we are grafted. We manifest the power and grace of God in our lives. Being convinced of this we should realize that we are not alone or helpless. Our lives are not futile or purposeless. We can accomplish great things by unity and by holding onto our hope.

Prateep V Philip