“Before we choose to follow God’s will, a crisis must develop in our lives. This happens because we tend to be unresponsive to God’s gentler nudges. He brings us to the place where He asks us to be our utmost for Him and we begin to debate. He then providentially produces a crisis where we have to decide, for or against. That moment becomes a great crossroads in our lives. If a crisis has come to you on any front, surrender your will to Jesus absolutely and irrevocably.” —Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.
John 17:11

Who was at the table?

Peter –

James & John –

Matthew –

Thomas –

Simon the Zealot –

²⁰ “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one.
John 17:20-22

• Live in

.

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:3

I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
John 17:23

Real unity between all Christians would be a “supernatural fact which would require a supernatural explanation.” —William Barclay, NT Theologian

“I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
John 17:26

“…clothe yourself in love. Love is what holds you all together in perfect unity.”
Colossians 3:14

• Love each other

.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
John 13:34

• What does love

of me?

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:17-21

“We stand at the crossroads, each minute, each hour, each day, making choices. Each choice is made in the context of whatever value system we have selected to govern our lives. In selecting that value system, we are, in a very real way, making the most important choice we will ever make. Those who believe there is one God who made all things and who governs the world by this providence will make many choices different from those who do not.” —Benjamin Franklin

Remember: OCC shoeboxes should be filled and returned by next Sunday (November 15). If you are local, stop by the campus to pick up a box during the week. If you are not local, check out how to build a shoebox online.