Bind us Together

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. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:1-3)

The recipe for harmonious relationships within the church is not some kind of mysterious or secret formula. Paul told the Ephesians what ingredients were required for peace. We are to be humble because arrogance and pride spoil peace. We are to be gentle because aggression and hostility ruin peace. We are to be patient because impatience stirs up problems and peace will not thrive in that environment. We are to bear with one another ‘in love’. Love is the perfect environment in which humility, gentleness and patience flourish. These are the ingredients of peace. If we allow the Holy Spirit’s peace to rule in our hearts, then barriers between believers will be broken down. We need the aid of the Holy Spirit to help us grow in our love for God and each other. We need humility in recognizing and appreciating each other’s strengths. Furthermore, we need the patience to accept each other’s weaknesses. We need an understanding of each other’s differences. We need the work of the Holy Spirit to help us reach the joy God desires for us in our lives together. The unity of the Spirit is not the same as the camaraderie that might exist in the golf club or the rugby club. Church is more than a gathering of like-minded people who share common interests. It is an organic unity of souls, not just an organizational structure. We are one in Christ. We do not have to create this unity, but we are encouraged to maintain it. That requires a conscious effort to engage in regular maintenance. The unity of the Spirit is a unity based on the revealed truth of Scripture.