There are many approaches used to evangelize, to let the world know about the kingdom of God and that Jesus is the Savior. Jesus Himself taught several approaches, and one of these is a way to convince the world that He is from God.
“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.” John 17:20-21
Jesus prayed that we would all be one. Importantly, He wasn’t just praying for those around Him at that time, but for all who would come to believe in Him, that we would all become one through our common unity with Him.
This is a work of the Holy Spirit, for we who have put our faith in Jesus share the one Holy Spirit indwelling us.
Note the reason for Jesus’ prayer for unity – that the world would know that God had sent Him. Not that we would be happy, minister effectively, and so on, but that our unity would be a sign.
For the spiritual truth of our unity through Him to be a sign to the world, it needs to be lived out, it needs to be evident to the world around us. When we do this, the world will come to know about Jesus.
So let us pray for our unity, that it would be real and that it would be evident to the world.
Heavenly Father, may the Spirit draw Your children together into one and give us the ability and desire to live that unity out before the world.
Exploring Antioch 