Realizing the Power In Relationships

John 17:20-21 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,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."

I love this Scripture...this prayer that Jesus prays, I believe, goes to the very heart of what we should be about.

Jesus wants us all to be one. What does that mean? Work together to help others, care about what happens to each other, rejoice when folks are happy, mourn when they are sad, celebrate victories, encourage in times of defeat.

The fact that Jesus has to pray for us to be one indicates that it is not our natural inclination to be one with each other. I think part of that is that people tend to think of themselves first and when everyone is doing that...well, it's messy. But if we truly want what God wants for us, we will make this a priority. Others first...let's work through the mess. God has His reasons for us to live as one....let's discover the heart of the reasons. Knowing God, He wants the best for us sooo let's work through the messiness. He won't make us do it alone; He's with us when we choose to open our hearts to those folks that are messy. He will weather the storm with us--when we fall down, get hurt, hit a wall-and when we experience wonderful relationships He will be there getting glory!

He' ll guide us if we open our hearts to Him and to the people He loves (He loves everyone, by the way-even us).