<p>Stand Fast in Unity</p><p>Jesus&#39; last prayer for His disciples was dominated by one key theme: unity. Jesus looked beyond the cross to reunion with His Father <em>and</em> reunion with us: &quot;Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me&quot; (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2017:24&version=KJV&src=tools" target="_self">John 17:24</a>, NKJV). Jesus prayed that the Father would keep His children so &quot;that they may be one as We <em>are</em>&quot; (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2017:11&version=KJV&src=tools" target="_self">John 17:11</a>, NKJV). He also underscored the dire consequences of disunity--it becomes a reason for many not to believe. Twice in this brief prayer, Jesus emphasizes our oneness with Him and the Father is so &quot;that the world may believe&quot; and so &quot;that the world may know that You have sent Me&quot; (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2017:21&version=KJV&src=tools" target="_self">John 17:21</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2017:23&version=KJV&src=tools" target="_self">23</a>, NKJV).</p><p><em>Read </em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%201:27&version=KJV&src=tools" target="_self">Philippians 1:27</a> and compare <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2017:17-19&version=KJV&src=tools" target="_self">John 17:17-19</a>. What do both Jesus and Paul say is indispensable for unity in the church?</p><p>The Greek word in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%201:27&version=KJV&src=tools" target="_self">Philippians 1:27</a> translated &quot;let your conduct be worthy&quot; is <em>politeuomai</em>, which means &quot;live as a citizen&quot;--not of any earthly kingdom but as a citizen of the heavenly kingdom. The Sermon on the Mount paints a beautiful picture of what it means to be children of the heavenly Father and members of His kingdom: poor in spirit, meek, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, turning the other cheek, loving one&#39;s enemies, blessing those who curse us, doing good to those who hate us. In short, &quot;to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God&quot; (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah%206:8&version=KJV&src=tools" target="_self">Micah 6:8</a>).</p><p>It&#39;s difficult to be upset or angry with someone like that, or is it? Sometimes we resent people who seem to be <em>too</em> good. We may even be tempted to cut them down to size or find a weak point to prove they&#39;re not as good as they seem, all so that we feel better about ourselves. Instead, why not see how much more loving <em>we</em> can be, how generous, how merciful, how humble?</p><p>Ellen G. White spoke of those who &quot;love the world and its gain better than they love God or the truth.&quot;<a href="https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/113.1385?hl" target="_blank">--<em>Testimonies for the Church</em>, vol. 5, p. 277</a>.</p><p>So often disunity in the church ultimately stems from pride. &quot;As pride and worldly ambition have been cherished, the spirit of Christ has departed, and emulation, dissension, and strife have come in to distract and weaken the church.&quot;<a href="https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/113.1216?hl" target="_blank">--<em>Testimonies for the Church</em>, vol. 5, pp. 240, 241</a>.</p><p>How crucial that we each learn the humility and meekness that Jesus modeled for us! What a different church we would have, wouldn&#39;t we?</p><p></p>