A Heart of Oneness

My parents are an extraordinary witness of the oneness of God. They embody unity in their home life, through a beautiful marriage that has stood the test of time and adversity, and in their life mission as bridge-builders for God’s kingdom. Dad and Mom are both retired now from successful careers, yet they remain committed to their call to the ministry of reconciliation.

My dad has served for many years at the national and local levels of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and my mom has pioneered a longstanding independent women’s outreach and itinerant speaking ministry. Their faithful service, spanning several decades, has irrevocably impacted Syracuse, New York, the city of my youth. Each time we visit them, we witness the fruit of their ministries in the lives of the people they have helped transform. My folks’ bridge-building ministry has extended the faith-filled oneness of their home life to the larger Syracuse community.

At the Cross, Jesus secured the possibility of oneness for all humanity through the ultimate act of bridge-building. Accomplishing this unrivaled feat meant that God first had to become like us. Through the Incarnation of His one and only Son, He became one with humanity, fully identifying with us. Jesus became like us in every way. He could have clung to His exalted status:

“Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:7–8, NLT)

Sharing in our humanity, at immense cost, proved the reach of Christ’s love and faithfulness. Jesus encourages all His followers to live out the same obedient humility:

“Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29)

Taking on His yoke means becoming one with Him. There is no other fitting response to the supreme oneness-accomplishing works of the Incarnation and the Cross. Christ became like us so that we could become more like Him.

The New Testament portrays Jesus as the culmination of God’s love for Israel. He was born as the prophesied Messiah of the Hebrews to save His people:

“Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2:17)

Even more astonishing is that His sacrifice was not meant only for the Jews. He gave His life for all peoples. Every child of God who places their faith in Him participates in His marvelous act of atonement. The Old English word atonement expresses the essence of reconciliation. It means literally “at-one-ment.” The Cross embodied God’s longing heart to be “at one” with you and me.

Each of us is called to the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18). Wherever you are in life, you have an opportunity to live out Christ’s yoke of humility and gentleness to reach the lost and hurting. Through faithful, compassionate service, we extend the same love that makes us “at one” with God to the communities we live in and impact today.

Lord, thank you for your heart of oneness exemplified in the Cross and the lives of those I look up to. Help me be an agent of transformative reconciliation in the community you have called me to today.

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Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.