Reaching Out In Unity- He Said

"I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one - I in them and you in me ­ so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." - John 17:22-23 (NIV)

Listen to Reaching Out In Unity

A former neighbor called this week. Turns out my friends Kim and Beth aren't speaking to each other… again. For the past several years they've argued over Kim's loud music, Beth's complaints to the town board, Kim's kids playing in Beth's front yard, the government's role in health care, abortion rights, immigration and on and on. Whatever the issue, I always know where Kim and Beth stand-on opposite sides of the fence.

This time their disagreement was over money. Beth claimed Kim owed her $230. Kim was sure she'd paid the bill. She had. She'd paid me $230 for work I'd done months ago on a project initiated by Beth.

I hung up thinking; I ought to just pay Beth the $230 out of my own pocket. Maybe then they'd stop fighting. But would they? Even if I settled the accounts for them, would it matter?

Christ claimed our unity, love and forgiveness would be a sign to others that we were His-that the sacrifice of His Son for us mattered to us. But does it?

A few hours later I met with another friend, Suzie. She's a missionary in Romania. Suzie told me of all the miracles she's seen, the healing of broken bones, deaf ears opened, the sudden disappearance of cancerous tumors. Then she said, "But you know, even in my city, despite God's outpouring of love, we're divided. There are other churches that won't speak to us because of doctrinal differences. Imagine how confusing it is to those outside the Church when those of us inside the Church are arguing like this."

"No need to imagine," I told her. "I see it every Sunday."

I sent Beth a check for the full amount, asking that she respect our friendship enough to allow me to pay the debt of my other friend and her neighbor. Now it's up to them to resolve their differences. I pray that they will. I pray I haven't wasted my money.

I pray God hasn't wasted the life of His Son, either.