Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling."
Text: Ephesians 4:4
GOD’S PART
God has done His part to make unity possible. For every problem, God provides a solution. Racial problems may be resolved through a common faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Theological difficulties are also removed when Christ is given preeminence.
SEVEN GLORIOUS REASONS WHY WE MUST KEEP PROMOTING UNITY
There are many reasons for us to keep working at cultivating unity in the Body of Christ. Paul listed seven clear and distinct reasons.
1. One Body (“soma”)
2. One Spirit (“pneuma”)
3. One Hope (“elpidos”)
4. One Lord (“kurios”)
5. One Faith (“pistis”)
6. One Baptism (“baptisma”)
7. One God and Father of all (“theos kai pater”)
UNITY IN THE FIRST CENTURY CHURCH
It may be said that only in the first century, in the days of the apostles of Christ, did the Church actually enjoy the kind of unity that Paul spoke about. The first century Church also had their fair share of problems but they held fast. Their problems included difficult trials like persecution, attacks from false teachers and more. Nevertheless the churches held fast to their faith and maintained an unparalleled sense of oneness not seen at that level ever since.
THE CHURCH TODAY
On the international scene, denominationalism has plagued the Church. No one is naïve enough to hold out any true hope for the Church to go back to the kind of unity experienced by the first century church.
There have been many efforts made to bring about a semblance of unity. Ecumenism has been touted as the answer to the problem of sectarianism in the Church. While there may be dialogue between denominational leaders, ecumenism has not provided the answer to the problem of schism.
GUARDING UNITY IN THE LOCAL CHURCH
What remains is the guarding of the local church. Even in the local church scene, unity is threatened. There is strife between leaders and members. There is friction among those who play leading roles in the local church. Tensions must be expected, but these may be overcome if we would but take time to pray much for the unity of the Church. Let us take seriously the challenge of the apostle Paul to “endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”.