Exodus 33:11

Ex 33:11 (NKJV) “So the Lord (Yahweh) spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.”

It is incredible to think that Moses was so close to God, that God considered him a friend. The children of Israel also thought this was incredible too but instead of wanting to imitate Moses and develop a personal friendship with God themselves, they were intimidated by God and admired Moses as someone with powers and abilities beyond the average person. The oneness that God desired with His people, at that time, only existed with Moses.

God was to the children of Israel a mysterious pillar of cloud, it is hard for people to become friends with someone they cannot see, touch or hear. So God, the creator of all things, and the King of the universe, humbled Himself and became a human, an infant, a helpless child. He did this so that He could understand us, and we could understand Him. If God wanted to prove that he desired to be our friend, He could not have done more. He demonstrated his desire to have oneness with us by becoming one of us, Emanuel, “God with us.” He became a man so that we could know Him and understand Him and want to be His friend. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3 (KJV).

The oneness that Christ desires with us is so deep He described it this way, that “they (His followers) all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.” John 17:21 (KJV). The closeness of relationship that exist between Jesus and His Father is to be the same depth of relationship Christ desires with us, and at the same time, the same depth of relationship believers have with one another, “that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one.” John 17:22-23 (KJV). We as a Church are truly not as close to one another at the amazing level Jesus intends for us to be. But then beyond that, Jesus tells us that when the world sees the oneness we have as Christians, people of this world will be drawn to us. The world is desperately looking for a real connection with people who care, the churches oneness has a purpose, to draw the world to Christ. In this way, our love will prove to the world that God loves them as much as the Father loves the son. And by this “the world will know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” John 17:23 (KJV)

The biggest problem with Christianity today is our tunnel vision, we have a hard time seeing God's bigger picture. It seems like, for most Christians, that we are perfectly content to have a personal relationship with Jesus and then stop there, perfectly satisfied with the little picture. Moderation, when God has so much more in mind for His Church. We complain and are dissatisfied with the fact that the Church doesn’t seem caring and it is so impersonal, and we accept it as the status quo. However, we cannot look to the “church” to change the status quo, because what is the church? – I am the church, change must start with me not with “them.” You may say what can I do? I am just one person, the problems are too big in the church for me to fix? But a fire starts with just one little spark and a storm begins with just one drop of rain.

Making the church more caring and less impersonal begins with one drop of rain – me; and soon there is a puddle – us; then a river – the congregation; then ponds – multiple congregations; and lakes – countries; and eventually oceans – the whole world. Why can't the church be filled with the oneness of Christ and compassion for one another, and for the world? There is no reason it can't, Jesus said, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also.” John 10:16 (NIV). Sure, just watch the rivers sweep those other sheep into the flood till the world is consumed. It is a divine strategy.

By God's power we can overcome our lack of imagination, and the Church will become one even as Jesus and the Father are one. Wouldn't it be just like God if something as simple as oneness would be the key to spreading the Gospel to the entire world.

Describe how deep of a friendship you have with God? Compare that to the type of friendship you would like to have with Him? What does the status quo in the church you attend feel like? What are some things you can do to make a difference?