| Blogs > marbella3 > The Word For Life. |
|
Unity Bible in a Year : Proverbs 22–24; 2 Corinthians 8 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:3 Ephesians 4:1–6 In 1722 a small group of Moravian Christians, who lived in what is now the Czech Republic, found refuge from persecution on the estate of a generous German count. Within four years, more than 300 people came. But instead of an ideal community for persecuted refugees, the settlement became filled with discord. Different perspectives on Christianity brought division. What they did next may seem like a small choice, but it launched an incredible revival: They began to focus on what they agreed on rather than on what they disagreed on. The result was unity. The apostle Paul strongly encouraged the believers in the church in Ephesus to live in unity. Sin would always bring trouble, selfish desires, and conflict in relationships. But as those who were made “alive with Christ” the Ephesians were called to live out their new identity in practical ways (Ephesians 5:2). Primarily, they were to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (4:3). This unity isn’t just simple camaraderie achieved through human strength. We are to “be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (v. 2). From a human perspective, it’s impossible to act in this way. We can’t reach unity through our own power but through God’s perfect power “that is at work within us” (3:20). Reflect & Pray How are you experiencing division or unity in your community of faith? What efforts can you make in God’s strength to keep the unity of the Spirit? Father, You who are over all and through all and in all, live among us in such a way that unity will be present. 
|
|||
|
Nonbelievers want to emphasize all the disunity and errors, and yes even horrors, of the organized church over the centuries, but this points out that even with differences, when we focus on the main point of Christianity, we can live in harmony. That main point is the personal relationship with God through Jesus. When we focus on that one thing, all the little differences become unimportant. A pastor I once had often pointed this out, because even in the various Christian denominations today, there are some strong differences in their articles of faith. As he said, many of those are "rules" made by man's perceptions and not necessarily accurate. But if we just focus on Jesus and our personal relationship with him, all the other things become trivial. Be a prism, spreading God's light and love, not a mirror reflecting the world's hatred.
|
×
×