Keep the Unity of the Spirit

March 11, 2013 - Ephesians 4:1-6

4:1		我 為 主 被 囚 的 勸 你 們 、 既 然 蒙 召 、 行 事 為 人 就 當 與 蒙 召 的 恩 相 稱 ．
4:2		凡 事 謙 虛 、 溫 柔 、 忍 耐 、 用 愛 心 互 相 寬 容 、
4:3		用 和 平 彼 此 聯 絡 、 竭 力 保 守 聖 靈 所 賜 合 而 為 一 的 心 。
4:4		身 體 只 有 一 個 、 聖 靈 只 有 一 個 、 正 如 你 們 蒙 召 、 同 有 一 個 指 望 、
4:5		一 主 、 一 信 、 一 洗 、
4:6		一 　 神 、 就 是 眾 人 的 父 、 超 乎 眾 人 之 上 、 貫 乎 眾 人 之 中 、 也 住 在 眾 人 之 內 。

 ¹ As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Believers are called by the Lord to live a life worthy of the calling, which should demonstrate humility, gentleness, patience and love toward others. Paul stresses that a spiritual community is to live out the unity of the Spirit with the utmost effort through the bond of peace that is effected by Christ and His Gospel. Paul considers that our Christian faith is in fact founded on the "one-ness" that is reflected in seven aspects: one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God.

My Lord, this is also my prayer today that You by the Spirit powerfully works in our church and all other churches of Christ that we live out the Unity of the Spirit as we all submit ourselves to this "one-ness" and have a spirit of humility, gentleness, patience and love toward others in the midst of diversity and differences. I also pray that I rely on your grace to have faithfulness and perseverance to finish the work you give to me. Amen!