When you hear the music team on a Sunday morning, before the service starts, you will notice that there is a lot of movement, noise of random chords being played while the guitar is being tuned, singers saying "testing 1, 2 ..." to test the volume of the mics, and the sound technicians moving around making sure everything is set. At a glance this looks like chaos. But when the service finally begins, everything runs smoothly, and everyone plays in UNITY.

In other words, there is strength in UNITY. There is power in unity, and it glorifies God. John 17:13-24 records the longest prayer by Jesus. The main concern of the prayer is unity among God's people which signifies the power and importance of unity. Jesus prayed for all believers, in all times, to become unified. We must work together as the body of Christ comes together, across any racial, cultural, socio-economic barriers, to spread the love and hope of Jesus, to a dying world. 

Since unity is important to Jesus, it should be important to us too.

We have 2 days till our United event. Let us reflect on how we can pray for unity in all the areas in our life: personal life, family, church, community and town.

"“Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

“I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!" ~ John 17:13-24

Adapted from Dr Tony Evans devotional "The Power Of Unity"