COMPLETING THE CIRCLE

This morning I continued my study of the perfect circle of love that exists between the Father and the Son. Reading Jesus' prayer for us that is recorded in John 17, it's easy to understand that the same love that exists within the Holy Trinity is supposed to exist between believers.

In fact, Jesus intended that love to be the identifying mark of His disciples. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35

Clearly, His love is meant to bind believers together in unity. . . . that they may be one . . . that the world may believe. (John 17:21) . . . that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know. (John 17:23)

Yet, what could possibly be more fragmented than Christianity? I mean - have you looked at the "Church Directory" section of your local newspaper? The number of denominations - and even groups and fellowships that reject any classification with a specific denomination - is staggering. How could all these distinctions ever be dissolved so that the body of Christ might be ONE as He desires?

Let's imagine all the Christians in the churches in our town have suddenly been picked up and placed deep inside a small country that is the home of the most virulent communism in the world. To affirm your trust in Jesus in that setting would invite imprisonment or death. What would happen?

First of all, it would be safe to assume the membership rolls of each church would quickly become sprinkled with blank spaces. Not because of death, but because of desertion.

What else would happen? Very quickly, denominational distinctives and pampered pet doctrines would shrivel away. Why? They would be overpowered by the deep sense of value each believer would feel toward the others. Walls of tradition and culture that have divided believers for hundreds of years would tumble. Each believer would become a treasure - a priceless commodity to be embraced by the rest of the spiritual family.

Is that really what would happen? Yes - and it's exciting to think about. But since it's not actually the way things are, is there a point to our "imagining?"

Yes. And this is the point: What "would be" is actually "what is." In other words, this imagined change of ours is only a change in circumstance, not in people. What these other believers would be - treasured members of our spiritual family - is what they are today. TODAY. Right now. Whether we realize it or not.

Think for just a minute about one person in your church with whom you have a difficult time getting along. If that person were beside you in the imaginary scene we just set forth, all the "differences" between you and this person that are difficult for you right now would seem absurdly trivial. Yet the person would not have changed. You would not have changed. Only the circumstances would be different.

Here's the bottom line, beloved, you and I can make the choice to value persons above circumstances any time we want to - IF we want to.

Do you want to? You must! And so must I!

Do you remember what is at stake?

. . .that the world may believe . . . that the world may know.

God says our oneness - our unity - will break through the darkness to touch the countless millions He longs to redeem. We must complete the circle of love!

[taken from: Close to His Majesty by David C. Needham, Multnomah Press, 1987]