This week’s devotions are based on Week 7 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
Today in our community students head back to school. Perhaps the smiling first day of school pictures cover the bit of sadness that the summer is over or exhibit the joy of heading back to the classroom. As parents, our desire for our girls is that they give their best effort in everything they do. We are convinced that when they give every homework assignment, quiz or test their best effort, the outcome will be positive. If they give up or approach their school work with a half-hearted effort, the result is anything but the best.
Have you ever thought about giving your best effort to your church family? Maybe we think about our volunteer effort or financial contributions…but have you thought about the importance of giving every effort to keeping the “unity of the Spirit”?
Paul writes, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:3-6).
Unity in our culture today is often defined as achieved if we can accept everyone and everything no matter what they believe or how they behave. Unity without a standard of unity is really not unity at all…it’s just a superficial peace while overlooking real underlying conflict and differences.
This is not the unity that God desires. Rather, as Paul writes, God sets the standard of unity. His desire is that every person is unified by being part of the “one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.”
This leaves no room for multiple gods, variations of beliefs or different paths to God. True unity is when the Spirit leads two or more individuals to express trust in the God, faith, and hope which the Bible teaches. Anything less leaves unity lacking and peace elusive.
Living a life worthy of the calling we have received means making every effort to build, maintain and preserve the unity which only God gives. It’s no wonder that we need humility and patience with one another. For our pride and ego can often get in the way and disturb the peace of God’s people and create division. Our focus rather is building our faith and the faith of others to bring us all closer to God and closer to each other.
But it’s work…at times hard work.
But God desires we always give it our best effort.
The effort starts with ourselves. The closer we grow in our relationship to the Lord and our understanding and love for his Word strengthens our unity with the Lord himself. The more we keep our focus on the Lord and help others in our Christian family to do the same, the stronger the unity we have. And where there is true unity, their is a strong bond of peace. Why? Because it is built on something solid, not superficiality.
So whether its back to school, back to work, or simply a normal day…make every effort to maintain and build the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace…in every relationship you encounter.
Apply: Think of your marriage, family relationships, or church family. What can you do this week to encourage and strengthen the unity God desires with him and each other?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for connecting me to you by the power of your Spirit through your Word. Use me as a catalyst to always promote and protect the unity of the Spirit and build the bond of peace. AMEN.