THINK TOGETHER
Have you ever been on a team? What happens when teammates don't get along?
READ TOGETHER
Just before Jesus was put on the cross he stopped and prayed for his disciples. Do you want to hear how Jesus prayed for us? Here is part of his prayer:
John 17:20-23. 20"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
Jesus prayed that all the Christians would be unified. That they would be one, just like the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one God. Jesus prayed that all the Christians would love each other so that the whole world would know that God loves them too when they see how much the Christians around them love each other. That's a pretty great thing to pray for isn't it? Why? Because we should all want everyone to know how much Jesus loves them.
But if all the Christians are mean to each other and argue with each other, then it will be really hard for others to want to listen to us when we tell them about Jesus and his love. If we can't love each other then why would anyone listen to us about God's love? But if we love each other the same way God loves us, then people might just listen to us about God's love.
So how can Christians keep getting along with each other and loving each other? Only when we keep remembering that God loves us. And how do we know that God loves us? We know because Jesus died for us on the cross and took away all our sins, not because we earned it, but simply because he loves us so much.
Because of Jesus we are all unified in God's love.
With Jesus we can get along with others and love others.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Using the news or social media ask your kids to think about some of the things that divide people or make people not get along. Then help them to see how knowing we are loved by God allows us to care about people even when we disagree.
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus, your love for us makes us all one together in your love. Help me to get along with other Christians so the world can see your love in me. Amen.
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