Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Text: Ephesians 4:3
A REPEATED CALL TO KEEP THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH
The call to all believers to endeavor to practice oneness was issued to a number of Churches. Apparently the threat to disrupt the unity of the Church was very real indeed. Three groups of churches may be used as examples of the threats that endangered the life of the brethren.
1. The Corinthian Church
Paul wrote most firmly to the Corinthian Church to work at removing the threats that endangered unity in the community of believers in Corinth (Cf. 1 Corinthians 1-4).
2. The Philippian Church
Paul had to urge the Philippians to work hard at preserving oneness in the Church.
Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ,
so that whether I come and see you or am absent,
I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit,
with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.
PHILIPPIANS 1:27
3. The Galatian Churches
This group of churches was also threatened. Paul wrote to warn the churches with these words.
And this occurred because of false brethren
secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out
our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus,
that they might bring us into bondage).
To whom we did not yield submission even for an hour,
that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
GALATIANS 2:4-5
THE UNITY IN THE SPIRIT
Keeping the Church united is no simple task. The checkered history of the Church bears witness of the difficulty to keep this glorious teaching of “unity”. We would feel less discouraged if we seek to do this work of keeping the church united “in the Spirit”. Two thoughts may be highlighted:-
1. Consciousness of the role of the Spirit in this effort
We cannot bring about any sense of unity in the Church without the help of the Holy Spirit. We must actively seek to be conscious of His role in the Church at all times.
2. Consciousness of the realm of the Spirit
True unity will only be possible if we bear in mind the realm of the Spirit. True unity cannot be achieved outside this realm.