Responding with Gratitude - Pt. 3

 

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. (Ephesians 4:1-7 ESV).

 

Again, we return to tis reading for today’s devotional. Did you notice the Apostle Paul’s strong encouragement to Make every effort to “maintain unity” in this reading? He says, “… be eager” toward an attitude of unity and a bond of peace. Paul urges us as followers of Christ to “keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” As Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers” (cf. Matthew 5). When we strive to live together in peace, the Spirit brings unity, but each of us can promote unity or destroy it. The unity of the church and of society must be preserved by the bond of peace. In Christ we have found peace with God; he came to save us even though we were his enemies (cf. Romans 5:8-11). Jesus is the Prince of Peace (cf. Isaiah 9:6), and he invites us to make peace in his name.

 

This is certainly a contemporary issue we ought to be aware of in our families, our churches, and our communities. We have not be as divided as a nation as we are today since the War Between the States. How could we have become so divided? Many people would point to the extreme differences in philosophy and belief; however, I think it is a deeper problem than that.

 

The people around us will not always be nice, fair, or do what is right. But even then, our role is to bring peace. We do this in our families, our churches, and wherever we spend our workdays. In this way we can help to make our world a place that reflects more of the values of God’s kingdom. This is rooted in the grace of God given freely, though pricelessly procured by the death of God’s only begotten Son (cf. John 3:16). How can we hate one another knowing God loved every one of us? Respond to others with understanding and grace in every circumstance of life.