Scripture Daily

Context No. 3475 of 4322 · Ephesians

Context · Reflection

Ephesians 4:1-8: in context

1I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called, 2with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling, 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in us all. 7But to each one of us, the grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8Therefore he says, “When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to people.”

Paul urges believers to walk worthy of the calling to which they have been called, and he spells out at once what that looks like in relationships: 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.

Christian unity is not automatic; it must be worked at, guarded, and kept, through the daily practice of humility and patience and forbearance with one another. And Paul grounds it in a great sevenfold oneness: there is one body and one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. The unity is not something we manufacture but something already true in God, which we are called to preserve. Because there is one Lord and one Spirit binding us together, we are to bear with one another and keep the peace, humbly and patiently, protecting a unity that God himself has given rather than fracturing it.

Am I doing my part, with humility, patience, and forbearance, to guard the unity of the Spirit among God's people, rather than fracturing what God has made one?

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