Jesus Christ’s impassioned plea to the Father for us, those who believe on Him through the words of the apostles, was that we all be one:

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. John 17:20-23

Is this unity to be achieved at all costs? Should truth be sacrificed so that those who claim allegiance to Christ can profess a superficial unity through agreeing to disagree? No. Jesus prayed for this unity just after he prayed, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17). Truth must come before unity. Truth is what sanctifies the followers of Christ from fallacious philosophies of the world. It does no good to be united in falsehood. Satan’s forces are united, but they are by no means obedient and pleasing to God (Luke 11:17-18).

This unity for which our Lord prayed is more extensive than many think. Notice the degree to which Jesus prays this unity will extend, “…as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee…that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one…” (John 17:21-23). Jesus prayed that His followers be united just as much as the Father and Son are united. Would the Father and the Son differ in their answers to what is required for salvation? Would they give different answers to whether or not we have all truth necessary to please them contained within the pages of the Bible? Would they give different answers to what the church is, how it is organized, the doctrine it is to teach, the work it is to be doing, and the worship it is to offer? There are matters in which Christians have liberty to differ: those matters which are not clearly addressed in the word of truth. Jesus is not calling us to function as clones without any distinctive features as individuals, but He does call us to be united on the truths of God’s word.

The results of such unity will further Christ’s cause handsomely. The world will be drawn to Jesus Christ when His followers are one. This end Jesus had in mind when He prayed “…that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:21), and, “that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me” (John 17:23).

–Mark Day

Paul wrote many encouraging words in Galatians 6. Some of the most well-known are found in verse 9, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” It is possible for Christians to become weary even when they are doing good. We all need encouragement to keep on doing good. When our spiritual energy is sapped, we can wonder what the point is in continuing. Paul says we need to focus on the goal of reaping our eternal reward. As Paul just pointed out in the previous two verses, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting” (Galatians 6:7-8). Fleshly pursuits are empty; they yield no lasting results, except for eternal separation from God (Romans 6:21). Spiritual endeavors, however, lay up treasures in heaven that will endure (Matthew 6:19-20). We can rejoice that our labor is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58). It is when we lose sight of the goal and focus on peripheral issues that we are in spiritual danger (Luke 8:14).

Often one of the reasons we become spiritually weary is because we are bearing burdens. The Galatians had been led by Judaizing teachers who bound laws upon them that God did not. Because the Galatians felt they needed to keep a host of additional burdensome laws, they missed out on the life and liberty that is found in Jesus Christ (Galatians 5:1). There are people today who are spiritually plagued by teachers who place requirements on them that God does not require. People are often drawn to overly regulated religion because they do not have to think for themselves, but it leads to spiritual death.

Even if we are not being led by false teachers, in order to please everyone, we can often place requirements on ourselves that lead to spiritual exhaustion. Paul wrote in Galatians 6:2, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” He also wrote in verse 5, “For every man shall bear his own burden.” We ought to help one another and allow others to help us. Connecting with brothers and sisters in Christ and supporting one another is one of the best remedies for spiritual burnout. On the other hand, each man must do his own part. If we do for others what they can and should do for themselves then neither party is benefited. Even Jesus, who came to serve (Matthew 20:28), on occasion would send the multitudes away, and take time apart to be alone in prayer to God (Matthew 14:23). We can be so busy doing for others that we can neglect our own needed devotional time with God. Developing my personal relationship with God is something only I can do, so I must follow the example of my Savior who spent time alone with God.

Take time this week to renew your focus and investigate ways you can take care of your own spiritual needs so your future will be characterized not be wearing out but by well doing.

-Mark Day