Week 6 | Tuesday
Tuesday – One Big Family
Written by Brian Hutton (Pickerington Campus)
Ephesians 4:2-6
Key Verses
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (2-3)
Have you ever been walking out of church after a service, and someone in your family asks the seemingly simple yet dreaded question: “So, where do you want to go for lunch?” You just got done listening to a moving message and powerful worship, and in less than five minutes, you are in the parking lot arguing about where to eat. Everyone seems to have an opinion – and they want their choice. (Not your family? I guess you are better than the rest of us …) In this moment, you experience the reality of disunity.
Now, disunity on where to eat for lunch is one thing – but disunity over things that truly matter is another. Paul knows this to be true, which is why one of his first practical applications in Ephesians centers on the concept of unity. Paul writes that believers should “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit.” As followers of Jesus, we are unified by the blood of Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Yet, at the same time, Paul encourages believers to actively work towards maintaining this unity. Paul desires for believers to know they are in the same family, and then to live it out. The way in which we do that is through the commands in verse two, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
Paul lists four virtues describing the manner and attitude with which we are to walk: humility, gentleness, patience, and love. This sounds very similar to the list Paul writes in Galatians 5:22-23 – the fruit of the Spirit. When these are cultivated in our lives, they help us keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Let me offer a few short, practical definitions of each of these words:
Humility: Remembering to keep Jesus first, other people second, and ourselves last.
Gentleness: Acting in a manner that is meek, mild, and even-tempered.
Patience: The discipline to endure suffering or discomfort without striking back.
Love: Expressed goodwill and brotherly affection toward others, especially shown by bearing with other believers.
Paul wants followers of Jesus to see that unity within the family of God is extremely important. When believers are unified – expressing humility, gentleness, patience, and love – the beauty of Christ is displayed to the world. We should be people who make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit by cultivating humble, gentle, patient, and loving hearts.
Reflection Questions:
- Who are the believers you struggle to maintain unity with? Why is that?
- What are ways that you can grow in humility, gentleness, patience, and love toward others?
- How could you practically display humility, gentleness, patience, and love toward another believer this week?
Prayer Prompt:
“God, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Help me to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit with other believers. Make me more humble, gentle, patient, and loving today.”