by David Newman, Pastor of Antioch Church in Countryside YMCA
Deep within the human heart is the strong desire to feel “Respected” and to give “Respect”.
This word has become a core principle of the YMCA as we seek to build a culture where all can experience a sense of dignity and where “disrespect” is left at the door.
Perhaps, the greatest path to respect can be discovered within the foundational Bible verse of the YMCA, John 17:21
Those familiar with the history of the YMCA will know that this verse is carved in stone logos, printed on camp t-shirts, and painted on YMCA banners all over the world.
It is the prayer request of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Recently I was able to sit and pray in that garden where there is still an olive tree believed to have been planted around the time that Jesus was there.
Being in that garden, I reflected on the tender and tearful moment Jesus prayed for all of His future followers, “That they may all be one.”
Jesus prayed for unity, and it is within the soil of it that a harvest of Respect can grow.
Unity, however, is something that is often desired yet difficult to attain.
So how do we shape a culture where a diverse group of people experiences the type of unity that grows living stones of Respect?
Jesus’ prayer reveals part of the answer – a deep connection with Him as the source of this unity.
A.W. Tozier illustrates this through the example of how to tune the instruments of an orchestra: if each instrument tunes itself to one another, they will never be in tune.
However, when the conductor strikes one standard tuning fork, all the musicians will tune the instruments to that standard, and then all of the instruments will be in tune with each other.
If we learn to love, serve and care, with Jesus as our standard, there will be a profound unity that occurs.
As we grow in our connection with Jesus, He becomes the source and the model of our unity, and out of this soil of unity can grow a mighty harvest of Respect!
“My prayer is not for them alone.
I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.
May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane [Gospel according to John, 17.20-21 NIV]
This YMCA devotion series brought to you by onPrinciple – click here to learn more about it – a new leadership development program to strengthen the presence of Christ in the YMCA
Click here for the entire devotion series as a downloadable PDF booklet
