We have a choice to be “one” or to be “one with”. You can’t be both simultaneously, you have to decide which you will be. When individualism is a value in the culture it is hard to be “one with” because the value is placed on “one”. But the kingdom of God is not any culture of the world, it is it’s own culture and the greatest hurdle to coming into the kingdom is laying aside culture you have known to take on kingdom culture which you do not know. You don’t realize how cultural you are until you enter into another culture.

The invitation to be “one with” has been spoken by Jesus since the days He walked the earth. The apostle John penned Jesus’ invitation in John 17:11 “Holy Father, remain with them through your name, the name you have given Me. May they be one even as we are one.” In order to be “one with” Jesus and others who are “one with” Him, we must loose ourselves from our need to be “one” individually. When we think as “one” we think of what is best for us, for our life, our ministry, our money, our job, our family, it is all about me. This is cultural and it is hard to go from being “one” to being “one with” Jesus and others.

When you choose to be “one with” Jesus, your choosing to go where he goes, do what he does, and say what he says. John 12:24-26 says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him.” The invitation to become “one with” is an invitation to bear much fruit.

I see Orchards for miles and miles and miles, as people that are seeds choose to lay down their life and follow Jesus wherever He may lead them. We are going to see a harvest of obedience and it is called Orchard.