By Lauren Butts, BJM Trainee

When circumstances are ever-changing, communities can react in one of two ways: blaming and fearing the other, or unifying in solidarity. How do we practice unity in a time of social distancing?

I was reading John 16:33, when Jesus tells the disciples that they will face trouble, but that He has overcome the world and peace is found in Him. Then in John 17, He prays that all believers may be one, just as He and the Father are one. He desires us to be brought to complete unity with the Trinity and with each other because when that happens, the world will know that God sent Jesus and loves everyone as He loves Jesus.

Reality SF’s song “Make Us One” has been my soundtrack as I reflect on unity:

"Make us one as You are one: Holy Father, Spirit, Son.
In our lives Your will be done, in our world, Your kingdom come.
Oh our Lion, oh our Lamb — Bring Your healing, bring your plan.
You said You would, and we believe it.
Oh God of our tomorrow, the author of our days,
Come meet us in our sorrow and resurrect our praise.
Bind up the broken-hearted, transfigure our dismay.
You'll finish what You've started, and wipe our tears away."

The message I was hearing from God in this song is that His heart for us is to be in union: both with Him and with each other in the global group of believers. I think it is essential to be in union with Him because it is only there that we find true rest, hope, endurance, and wisdom. It is also essential for believers to be in union now as we intercede for and serve our communities. God says that the world will know who Jesus is because of our union, so it's time to come together with other believers—those we know and others we haven't met—to unify as all nations fight this destructive virus.

Finally, I think the song ties in well to the verse and where we are right now. The song is reminding us that He has come through and delivered us before. It asks for healing, for His plan, and for Him to meet us in our sorrow and mold our hearts to praise Him. I love the confident line, “You said You would, and we believe it.”

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Make Us One in Hope