“”I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”

In the 2002 film, Drumline that stared Nick Cannon as a hot shot street drummer from Harlem who went to Atlanta A&T University on a full ride band scholarship with the mindset of making a name for himself and not for the A&T band as a whole. After a rocky start  fraught with individualism, Devon would be reminded of A&T’s band mantra, “One Band, One Sound!”

In Jesus’ high priestly prayer in Joh 17:20-23, he underscored the oneness among believers of every age! He prayed that the oneness of believers mirror the oneness of the Trinity. Jesus is the source of believers oneness and according to Ephesians 4:3 believers are responsible for the maintaining of their oneness as a community. Scripture is clear that believers are to be one in beliefs, one in love, one in mind and are to be on one accord. Philippians 2:2 undergirds this truth. Paul said to the church at Philippi, “complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”

The oneness of believers serve as a witness to the world belief in the messianic mission of Jesus Christ. The oneness of believers is key to the salvation of sinners in the world. Christians should at all cost guard the oneness of its community. Guarding oneness means each member of the body of Christ must watch their actions and speech in public spaces and places. God is glorified when the community operates as one! Are you guarding the oneness of your community? If not, how can you guard it moving forward?

God, help me to personally guard the oneness of my community for your glory, Amen!

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