Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

August 17
Sunday


IS SOMEBODY
SINGING?

READ:
John 17:20-26
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From 200 miles above earth, Chris Hadfield, Canadian astronaut and commander of the international Space station, joined in song with a group of students in a studio on Earth. Together they performed "Is Somebody Singing," co-written by Hadfield and Ed Robertson.

One phrase of the song caught my attention: "You can't make out borders from up here." Although we humans draw many lines to separate ourselves from one another__national, ethnic, ideological__the song reminded me that God doesn't see such distinctions. The important thing to God is that we love Him and each other (Mark 12:30-31).

Like a loving father, God wants His family united. We cannot accomplish what God has for us to do if we refuse to be reconciled with one another. In His most impassioned prayer, on the night before He was crucified, Jesus pleaded with God to unite His followers: "That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us" (John 17:21).

Singing illustrates unity as we agree on the lyrics, chords, and rhythms. Singing can also promote unity as it binds us together in peace, proclaims God's power through praise, and demonstrates God's glory to the world.

__Julie Ackerman Link

`````````````````````````````O for a thousand tongues to sing```````````````````````
```````````````````````````````My great redeemer's praise,`````````````````````````
`````````````````````````````the glories of my God and king,````````````````````````
```````````````````````````the triumphs of His grace. __Wesley``````````````````````
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Singing God's praises will never go out of style.

*****************************************Today's Bible Reading __ John 17:20-26********************************
20 I do not pray for these
alone, but also for those
who will believe in Me
through their word; 21 that
they all may be one, as You,
Father, are in Me, and I in
You; that they also may be
one in Us, that the world
may believe that you sent
Me. 22 And the glory which
You gave Me I have given
them, that they may be one
just as We are one; 23 I in
them, and You in Me; that
they may be made perfect
in one, and that the world
may know that You have
sent Me, and have loved
them as You have loved Me.

24 Father, I desire that
they also whom You gave
Me may be with Me where
I am, that they may behold
My glory which You have
given Me; for You loved
Me before the foundation
of the world. 25 O righteous
Father! The world has not
known You; but I have
known You, and these have
known that You sent Me.

26 And I have declared to
them Your name, and will
declare it, that the love
with which You loved me
may be in them, and I in
them.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Jesus' prayer for the unity of believers (17:20-26) is one of the
beautiful theological passages of the gospel of John. It discusses
both the relationship between God the Father and Jesus as well
as the duration of that relationship. Jesus roots His desire for the
church to be one in His own relationship with God the Father. Their
relationship is characterized by mutual knowledge, love, and glory.
Not only does this prayer call for unity in the church, but it shows
the unique relationship between Jesus and the Father that existed
before the foundation of the world (v.25).




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