Day 24 - One Body and One Lord

Written by: Joy Hardin

SCRIPTURE
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all (Ephesians 4:1-6, NLT).

DEVOTION
“Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling” (Ephesians 4:1, NLT). Paul wrote this letter while he was a prisoner in Rome, yet here we see him encouraging others to be faithful to Christ. We’ve probably all known someone like this, who faithfully points others to Jesus even while their own problems are huge.

On June 27, 1984, my mother-in-law was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given only a short time to live. Instead of being upset about her own situation, she spent the next month sorting family photos, wrapping Christmas gifts, and recording messages for each of her 12 children and encouraging them to accept Jesus or deepen their walk with Him. On July 28, 1984 Sarah went to be with Jesus, perfectly at peace. Christmas morning, almost five months later, I opened her gift to me of two dish towels. Those two simple towels are one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever been given, because they are a reminder of Sarah’s last days and how I am to live out all my days—to walk worthy of Jesus.

“You have been called by God” (Ephesians 4:1b, NLT). The word Paul used for “called” can also mean summoned, which carries the idea of an authoritative call. If you’ve ever been summoned to court or jury duty, you know the importance of answering that call. Our call to lead a holy life worthy of God’s calling is even more urgent. (Read Colossians 3:1-3.)
 
“Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other” (Ephesians 4:2, NLT). Paul’s challenge to live worthy of Jesus was followed by a simple instruction manual: be humble, gentle, patient, accept each other. Paul presents these attributes as a choice. We can choose to have these attitudes or we can choose to claim our own interests. Like opposite ends of a magnet, putting others first goes against our human nature.  
 
The phrase “make allowance for each other’s faults” (Ephesians 4:2b, NLT) or “demonstrate gentleness and generous love toward one another, especially toward those who try your patience” (TPT) may be the toughest part of this list of godly attitudes. Most of us know someone who gets on our nerves a little.

Years ago, I worked in a store, and I had a shift supervisor who was challenging. He always chose me to clean the bathrooms, take out the trash, and all the jobs no one wanted to do. The conflict between us was very obvious to all. Finally, I was promoted, and there were shifts when I was over him. I had the authority to make him do all the unpleasant tasks, and I really wanted to, but I didn’t. I continued to clean the bathrooms and take out the trash even when I had a choice not to. I wanted to show him the kindness and the generous love of Jesus. (Of course, I celebrated when he transferred to another store.)

“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3, NIV). The church when Paul wrote this was made of Jewish converts and of non-Jews, and both groups saw their relationship with Jesus as superior to the other’s. Division was almost natural. But instead of being divided, they (and we) are commanded to “make every effort to keep unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” The word used for “bond” is different from the word Paul used describing his own bonds or chains (Eph. 6:20). This word can refer to ligaments and indicates a uniting principle. Ligaments are connective tissues which attach bones to bones, hold them together, and keep them stable. Just as our ligaments hold our bones together, once we come to Jesus, we are all on the same team regardless of our other differences. We are to “make every effort” to maintain unity.

“For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all” (Ephesians 4:4-6, NLT). These verses could almost be a creed or a statement of faith: “one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father.” In fact, the idea of God as One is a theme throughout His word. In Mark 12:29-30 Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:4-5, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” Jesus went on to add Mark 12:31, commanding us: “love your neighbor as yourself.” God originated the idea of unity, and we are to do that by loving others as He does.

ACTION STEP
As we go through the current series (BELIEVE, BELONG, BECOME, BUILD), are you allowing and encouraging others to belong? Who do you need to lift up and bring into a place of acceptance within the body of Jesus? Think of the people you know that you don’t have a harmonious relationship with, and make a list of them. Begin to pray for ways to build a bond of unity with them.

PRAYER TIME
With tender humility and quiet patience always demonstrate gentleness and generous love toward one another, especially toward those who try your patience (Ephesians 4:2, TPT).
Insert the name of the person who you find most difficult and ask the Lord to help you love them.

Father, help me to show gentleness and generous love toward ­­­_______, as You have shown generous love to me.