Jesus Come. We find ourselves again in a moment of clarity for the future of our nation, a time of grieving and reflection on who we are and who we want to be as humans as well as citizens within a unique nation that stakes its own claim in our bylaws to value and protect all life equally. As citizens, we are all processing this is different ways and acting out in those convictions through different mediums, some physical (protesting, speaking out loud, mobilizing for voting), some emotional (grief, conviction, denial), and some spiritual (prayer, fasting, lamenting). As we move into this season ahead of asking questions and working out our future path towards justice as a nation, please, please as followers of Christ, let us never forget that we are first and foremost citizens of a new Kingdom and our King is justice, He is Peace, He is Hope, and He is Reconciliation.

…that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. (John 17:21)

This past week I was able to study and teach on the last recorded prayer of Jesus before He went to the cross. His prayer, overwhelmingly, was that we would experience “oneness” with the Father and with one another.

“Abide in me…”

This profound invitation from Jesus to His followers comes with it a sobering promise:

“For apart from me, you can do…”

Wait for it… here it is…

“…Nothing.”