Making The Effort

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:3

How much effort does it take to maintain unity?  If we carefully observe human interactions in every arena of life, we see it is a monumental task.  Paul here speaks of making the sincere, genuine, and sustained effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  We have been divided ever since Cain killed Abel.  Christ alone brings lasting unity.  His people unite by Him, around Him, and through Him.  He demonstrates His power to unify by the sheer fact that all of His people have arrived at the conclusion that Christ alone saves.  By that, we mean all that it implies.  Peter put it this way, ‘Neither is there salvation in any other:  for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.’  If we adhere to this, it is the point which unites all of the redeemed of all ages.  It is, however, the very point which divides believers from all who refuse to accept it.  We look to Christ to give us both wisdom and grace to make the effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  He unites many and conforms them to His image, thus bringing them to the place where they will make the effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  No effort will succeed apart from Christ, and every effort succeeds because of Christ. ‘Without Me you can do nothing.’  If we are to make every effort, to keep the unity of the Spirit, we must unite ourselves around the person of Christ.

Our Wonderful and Wise God,
we rejoice that You have given us Christ
and made us one in Him.
We praise You, that daily
You give us opportunity to point people to Christ,
and thereby to unify around Him.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning