Oneness With Christ and the Father

[Daily Devotional]

Oneness With Christ and the Father 

     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. John 17:21.  

     Let these words be oft repeated and let every soul train his ideas and
spirit and action daily that he may fulfill this prayer of Jesus Christ. He
does not request impossible things of His Father. He prays for the very
things which must be in His disciples in relation to their oneness to each
other and their unity and oneness with God and Jesus Christ. Anything short
of this is not attaining to perfection of Christian character. The golden
chain of love, binding the hearts of the believers in unity, in bonds of
fellowship and love, and in oneness with Christ and the Father, makes the
connection perfect, and bears to the world a testimony of the power of
Christianity that cannot be controverted. . . .  

     Then will selfishness be uprooted and unfaithfulness will not exist.
There will not be strife and divisions. There will not be stubbornness in
anyone who is bound up with Christ. Not one will act out the stubborn
independence of the wayward, impulsive child who drops the hand that is
leading him and chooses to stumble on alone. . . .  

     "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have
loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye
are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:34, 35). Satan
understands the power of such a testimony as a witness to the world of what
grace can do in transforming character. He is not pleased that such a light
shall shine forth from those who claim to believe in Jesus Christ, and he
will work every conceivable device to break this golden chain which links
heart to heart of those who believe the truth and binds them up in close
connection with the Father and the Son. . . .  

     We believe in Jesus Christ. We unite our souls to Christ. He says, "Ye
have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should
go and bring forth fruit. . . . These things I command you, that ye love one
another." (John 15:16, 17).  

>From That I May Know Him - Page 173