One Lord, one faith. (Eph 4:5a NIV)

At the core of Christian unity is the one Lord Jesus Christ. All members of the Church acknowledge him as their only head and heart. Therefore there is nothing that can support, promote and motivate Christians in their unity than being focused on him alone and above all else. His Lordship dominates those reigned in singular reign. This Lord is of outstanding and unique character, who works unity and harmony in those belonging to him continuously. Our Lord is Lord of all – and Lord of Lords too. Our calling to unity and oneness in faith, hope and love is confirmed and strengthened by looking up to him and receiving life and salvation from him alone – in faith. The creedal unity of confessional Churches is by far stronger and more harmonious than might be expected at first sight, because the Christian Churches of the East and the West are quite agreed in most principal doctrines of the faith. Even if there is substantial difference in this and that article of faith, we should not forget the overwhelming unanimity of confession in the Trinitarian creed as formulated in Nicaea and expressing the united foundation of the holy Christian Church.  This one, holy Christian faith remains the solitary basis for unity and harmony amongst those belonging to the one herd of the good Shepherd Jesus Christ.

Lord Jesus Christ, joyfully we confess and call you our Lord and God. Through your victorious death and resurrection you have attained authority and Lordship over us as your very own people and dominion. Assist us further to rejoice with gratitude and thanksgiving that millions of people across the globe have joined us in praising you for this universal salvation. Grant that we will faithfully seek and promote the spiritual unity and blessed communion with those that belong to you here and elsewhere. Let us be one just as you and the Father are one. Amen.

The Church’s one foundation Is Jesus Christ her Lord, She is His new creation By water and the Word. From heaven He came and sought her To be His holy bride; With His own blood He bought her And for her life He died.

She is from every nation, Yet one o’er all the earth; Her charter of salvation, One Lord, one faith, one birth; One holy Name she blesses, Partakes one holy food, And to one hope she presses, With every grace endued.

The Church shall never perish! Her dear Lord to defend, To guide, sustain, and cherish, Is with her to the end: Though there be those who hate her, And false sons in her pale, Against both foe or traitor She ever shall prevail.

Though with a scornful wonder Men see her sore oppressed, By schisms rent asunder, By heresies distressed: Yet saints their watch are keeping, Their cry goes up, “How long?” And soon the night of weeping Shall be the morn of song!

’Mid toil and tribulation, And tumult of her war, She waits the consummation Of peace forevermore; Till, with the vision glorious, Her longing eyes are blest, And the great Church victorious Shall be the Church at rest.

Yet she on earth hath union With God the Three in One, And mystic sweet communion With those whose rest is won, With all her sons and daughters Who, by the Master’s hand Led through the deathly waters, Repose in Eden land.

O happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we Like them, the meek and lowly, On high may dwell with Thee: There, past the border mountains, Where in sweet vales the Bride With Thee by living fountains Forever shall abide!  (Johann B. Freystein 1671-1718)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Friday after the seventeenth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 339 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.