| “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” |
| —Ephesians 4:3 |
Some days, when I look across the landscape of Christian believers, I wonder how bonded in love to one another we Christians actually are. It often seems that groups of us are in conflict with one another much more so than we are willing to join forces in order to defeat the enemy of our souls. What a contrast to these words of the Apostle Paul found in Ephesians 4:1-7:
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
The bond of love that holds believers together was a constant theme of this Apostle. Paul recognized that the power of love expresses itself most forcefully within the fellowship of believers, who have determined to become of one mind and one heart. Notice these words Paul wrote to the church at Rome—a church he had not yet been able to visit in person—as recorded in Romans 1:8-12:
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.
God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
Let us determine to follow Paul’s example. Let us cling tightly to one another in faith. Let us rejoice with one another. Let us encourage one another in order to bring honor to our King. And, most of all, let us strive—as enabled by the Holy Spirit—to love one another with holy, God-breathed love. And, may this love-bond between us touch the lives of those around us in the most positive way possible.
Originally posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2015
