◄ What Does Ephesians 4:3 Mean? ►

Paul knew that unity in the Body of Christ can be threatened from without and destroyed from within. False doctrine and distorted scriptural truths can invade the Church, and trivial dissensions and petty disputes can also be a destructive element that causes disunity. Christ earnestly prayed for unity (note: not uniformity) before He died: "That they may be one..."

Paul calls us all to be like-minded, having unity in the spirit and the love of Christ in our hearts, being of one accord, encouraging the saints, and demonstrating tender-compassion in humility of heart towards one another. But mercy, truth, and unity, only comes when we have the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Spirit flowing through our inner beings, for it is only as we are yielded to the Holy Spirit, that He is enabled to conform us into the likeness of Christ.

We have the mind of Christ; to think as He did, to speak as He did, to live as He did, and to behave as He did. And so individually and collectively, we have the means to walk and live and pray in spirit and truth.

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul gives this vital challenge to all believers: If we have received any consolation in Christ; If we have any comfort of love; If we have any fellowship of the Holy Spirit, and if we have any bowels and mercies in Christ, then we are to demonstrate this in our lives by being of one same mind.

If we, as children of God, have received His goodness and grace, comfort and hope, we are to maintain the same goodness, grace, comfort, and love, and be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the body of peace.

The challenge to all believers is to faithfully and committedly develop a Christlike character, demonstrating the same love that He displayed. We are to be united in spirit and fervent in love, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

Let us be diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, with all our brothers and sisters in Christ. May the patience, humility, gentleness, and love we show to each other be known to all, as together we draw near to God.

Heavenly Father, I pray that I may show forth the grace of Christ, the love of the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, in thought, word, and deed. May I keep the unity of the Spirit with all my brothers and sisters in Christ so that we may honour Your name through our earthly witness. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.