Ephesians 4-A "One..."

S = 4:1-7 “I… urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 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. There is one body and one Spirit…one hope… one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all…But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.”

O = Paul strongly urges unity in the body and the attitudes and behaviors that support it. Unity in diversity—different gifts that lead to the unity of the faith (v.13). In the midst of the list of the “ones” there is an individual application of Christ’s gift to “each one of us.” And the health of the whole depends on the individual part working properly. Paul very practically describes what a “manner worthy” looks like. We need all…humility, gentleness, and patience if we are to bear with each other in love. We are not free to “work alone” in the Kingdom of God for we are members of one body. It is a pretty high calling…but God gives us grace to enable us to function in the role to which he has called us.

A = I need to work properly with those who are different from me so that I can truly be whole and healthy as I help others to be all that God has called them to be. How can I walk in humility, gentleness and patience this week? Am I “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit or do I tend towards grumbling and disputing?

P = O Lord, God of the prophets and apostles, my God, I choose again today to die to my selfish individualism to be a part of your “one” so that I might mature in you…becoming who I am in Christ.  Help me to be more encouraging in my speech, and more helpful in my actions, building others up in your love.  Amen.