We know God wants to mold us into the image of his Son. We want to walk as Jesus did, yet we realize as John the Baptist stated, “The one who comes from above is above all: the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth… For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.” (Jn 3:31-34)
We marvel that the Father loves us so much that he calls us his children; yet Jesus knew, even before his death and resurrection, that the true followers of the Son would be his representatives on earth until he returned. We look at ourselves and ask, “How so?” But Jesus said, “I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you… He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.” (Jn 16:7-15 )
As Jesus depended on the Holy Spirit to lead him, so we must depend on the Holy Spirit to lead us. We are members of one body with different functions and different gifts, but the same Spirit is at work for the common good. Our challenge is to humbly drink from the Spirit and walk in unity with God and one another.
Jesus prayed that the unity among the children of God would be just as tight as the unity between the Son and the Father. “I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message (us), that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you… May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” ( Jn 17:20-23) ‘God help us participate with Jesus in this great desire of his heart.’
“The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” I Corinthians 12:13