Scripture

John 17:6-19

“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.[a] 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them[b] in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself,[c] that they also may be sanctified[d] in truth.
Prayer

We see differences more quickly than similarities. We see disagreements more accurately than agreement. We see failed expectations more readily than generosity. You grace is sufficient in this Father. You can place on us and in us your name. Your name can hold us and bind us together. Your name is love. In Christ we say, Amen.
Meditation

There are certain things in our lives that we continue to go back to. Things that build into us a deeper appreciation of God’s name, His grace, His love, His pursuit. Verse 11 is the beginning of that hard understanding. Are we one? I really need to spend more time with this and let it push me. But something I do come back to again and again that helps me rest in the moment and leads to understanding of where I stand with all humanity before God is a song by the Lost Dogs. Here is a link and below are the lyrics:
Politicians, morticians, philistines, homophobes,

Skinheads, deadheads, tax evaders, street kids,

Alcoholics, workaholics, wise guys, dim-wits,

Blue-collars, white-collars, war-mongers, peace-nicks.
Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God,

Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God.
Suicidals, rock idols, shut-ins, drop-outs,

Friendless, homeless, penniless and depressed,

Presidents, residents, foreigners and aliens,

Dissidents, feminists, xenophobes and chauvinists.
Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God,

Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God.
Evolutionists, creationists, perverts, slum lords,

Dead-beats, athletes, Protestants and Catholics,

Housewives, neophytes, pro-choice, pro-life,

Misogynists, monogamists, philanthropists, blacks and whites. 
Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God,

Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God.
Police, obese, lawyers, and government,

Sex offenders, tax collectors, war vets, rejects,

Atheists, scientists, racists, sadists,

Biographers, photographers, artists, pornographers. 
Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God,

Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God.
Gays and lesbians, demagogues and thespians,

The disabled, preachers, doctors and teachers,

Meat eaters, wife beaters, judges and juries,

Long-hairs, no-hairs, everybody everywhere.
Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God,

Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God,

Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God,

Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God.
It is the desperate need of all of us.  

Action

What are the commonalities you find with those you disagree with? Write them out, go talk to them about what you have in common. Ask God to help you move beyond the division that is caused by disagreement and differences toward the place of unity.