Monday, April 26

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. – Ephesians 4:1-2

Remember that this letter to the Ephesians was written from the city of Rome where Paul was imprisoned and awaiting trial before the emperor on charges of inciting riots, with the implication even of treason against the emperor himself. Paul was actually chained to a Roman guard day and night. He was the personal prisoner of Emperor Nero, but he never refers to himself as the prisoner of Caesar. He often refers to himself as a prisoner of the Lord. He saw beyond the chains, and the guard, and the imperial processes of justice, to the sovereign hand of Jesus Christ behind all things.

The chapter we will be reading, praying and reflecting on this week is Ephesians 4. It is often titled “Unity in the Body” or “Unity in the Church”, and it is all about the importance of unity among God’s people. But look closely at how Paul begins this chapter. He begins with a personal and individual encouragement and challenge.

What does Paul say is the starting point for unity in the Body of Christ?

He says that unity starts in the individual heart! In other words, unity begins in you!

Unity begins with a humble, gentle and patient spirit in each of us. Notice that Paul does not say we must agree with one another on every issue. He does not urge us to join the same political party or ascribe to the same economic or social ideologies. In fact, Paul says that we are to bear with one another in love. This clearly implies that we will not all agree on all things (if we did, we would have nothing to bear with one another about).

Our politicians talk a lot about the need for unity in our country and bipartisan legislation. But when was the last time you saw any political debate in which you could describe either side as completely humble, gentle, patient and bearing with the other side? (It doesn’t happen!)

How many disputes between neighbors, or fights between family members, or lawsuits between former friends could be avoided if the individuals lived the kind of life that Paul is describing? The fact is that we see disunity all around us today because we do not live this way.

But the church is supposed to be different. The Body of Christ is supposed to operate by a different standard or code. Our unity does not come from a denominational standard or a church program or a clever slogan. Our unity comes from our attitude toward each other, and our attitude comes from our Lord Jesus Christ. He is our example of humility, gentleness, patience and bearing with others in love!

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! - Philippians 2:5-8

Oh Lord, teach us to live our lives in a manner worthy of You! Give us Your Spirit to teach us to be humble and gentle with one another. Help us in this world of disunity to be an example of Your grace and love. – Amen.

Jeff Frazier