24/07/2021 - THE SAVED MUST BE TOGETHER

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Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common. Acts 2.44

Our being together in God’s plan will make a difference in how we live and do His will. If we have the Lord’s direction and we do not take it together, this means carelessness or rebellion. Well, after the revelation, nothing else should occupy our time. We must walk in a manner worthy of our vocation: The king’s favor is toward a wise servant, but his wrath is against him who causes shame (Proverbs 14.35).

The Savior made clear in what we call the priestly prayer, recorded by the evangelist John, His desire that we live and do His work as one person: I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one (John 17.20,21a). He did not pray only for the first group of disciples, but for all of us. So, as we believe in Him, we fulfill His prayer for today’s Church.

God wants our covenant around His purpose. Anything less than this commitment is the work of the enemy. The Master further prayed: As You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me (John 17.21). According to Christ, the world will not believe that He is the One sent by God if we do not live in unity.

Then Jesus spoke of the glory given to Him, which made Him wonderfully used by the Almighty. This same glory has also been given to us. Christ explained the purpose of this: to be one, and no longer a group of separate people: And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one (John 17.22). The devil has managed to rob us of this blessing. Mercy!

Jesus closes the request for our unity, revealing the chain to be built between the saved man and the divine Trinity, saying: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me (John 17.23). Do we really believe that the Bible is God’s complete revelation to man? Have we pleased the Almighty?

The Gospel does not need people who love themselves, but rather who love God from the heart, with all their soul, and serve Him in communion. We cannot live apart and do what we think is right. We must fulfill the conditions set by the Lord in His Word. When the early church came together and prayed according to God’s will, even the ground of that place agreed with them (Acts 4.23-31)!

Will we still live apart from God’s will, which is to bring the lost to repentance (Matthew 18.14)? Do everything for Jesus’ prayer to be answered in full. Then you can consider yourself someone who has obeyed the Lord’s command and will be rewarded: Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing (Matthew 24.46). Will you be that servant?

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares