One

"My prayer is not for them [the disciples] alone, I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brough to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." (John 17:20-23)

This morning DICCU hosted a prayer meeting for some of the local church leaders. We had about 8 different churches represented in the room (who were invited on the basis that they had congregation members in DICCU) who spent an hour joined in prayer for the ministry of the CU. It was incredibly encouraging.
It was encouraging to see how we were being used by God to foster greater unity and love between the different churches in Durham.

It was also exciting and encouraging to reflect upon how many different traditions and denominations are represented in DICCU and how these different Christians work together to pursue the salvation of their friends and fellow students. In the last few days I have been meeting with many different Christian students who are passionate about unity, who express a deep desire to see more Christians in Durham working together and loving each other with greater measure according to Jesus' words here in John's gospel.

So I've been encouraged and challenged. Encouraged to see the glory of God revealed in our fellowship and mission as a vibrant and multi-denominational CU and challenged to seek a greater depth of unity and to become one as God is one. Indeed, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35).

I wonder, if we knew the full extent of the Father's love for the Son, would we begin to comprehend His love for us, to whom He gave His Son? Would we then begin to understand the depth of His love for all mankind?

Lord God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, may we have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is Your love for us. May we, in considering Your nature of being love, surrender ourselves in humility to Yourself, to Your truth, to Your Church and to Your people. May we as Christians in Durham be one as You are one and may our witness of Love to each other point to You as Love itself.
Amen