Last week I had the privilege of spending a week at a retreat with our youth. I was struck by their energy and excitement to go away together.

I observed them interacting with one another and with Jesus. I got to see them eat together, watch movies together, play pool together and study God’s word together — you get the idea.

They were together all week and it seemed like they couldn’t get enough together time.

Relationships = Togtherness

That reminded me of John 17 where Jesus is praying His Priestly prayer over His disciples, both physically present at that time, and those to come. He could have prayed for anything: our wealth, our happiness, our success, but instead He focuses on two things:

• Our relationship with Him

• Our relationship with each other

He wanted both to be in such unity that we would emulate His close relationship with the Father.

Look at what He says in verses 20-21:

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.  21  I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.”

In the hours leading up to His arrest and death, Jesus uses the time to pray for our togetherness. He prays that we would find unity in Him and the timing shows that He is passionate about this request.

As we wind down our summer and get back into the swing of things, let’s purpose together to be together — to be unified in our love for Jesus, each other and the world around us!

~Michelle Negron