One Call for Unity

Ephesians 4:1–6 CEB

1 Therefore, as a prisoner for the Lord, I encourage you to live as people worthy of the call you received from God. 2 Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience. Accept each other with love, 3 and make an effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit with the peace that ties you together. 4 You are one body and one spirit, just as God also called you in one hope. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 and one God and Father of all, who is over all, through all, and in all.

One Call for Unity

"Make an effort of every kind to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." These verses from Ephesians 4:3 serve to remind us that togetherness is not something that we as human beings have a predisposition toward developing on our own. We are eager to focus on the ways in which we vary from one another and to allow those differences to drive a wedge between us. However, as followers of Christ, we have been called to a new kind of life. We are obligated to spare no effort in our pursuit of preserving the unity of the Spirit.

Have you ever tried to put together a jigsaw puzzle with someone else? It can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it can also lead to a lot of frustration if you're not on the same page. One person might be looking for the perfect piece to complete a particular section, while the other person is busy trying to force pieces together that clearly don't fit.

In a way, this is a lot like the challenge of Christian unity. We're all working towards the same goal, but sometimes we get so caught up in our individual pursuits that we lose sight of the bigger picture. It's like we're all holding different puzzle pieces, but we're not sure how they fit together. And just like with a jigsaw puzzle, it can take some real teamwork and communication to make sure everything comes together in the end.

This is a difficult assignment; nonetheless, it is one that must be completed if the church is to maintain its health and vitality. When we work together as one, we have the potential to do great things for the kingdom of God. But when we are divided, we are unable to do anything because we are weakened. The Apostle Paul advises us to do all in our power to maintain the unity of the Spirit for this precise reason.

The question now is, what exactly does it mean to maintain the unity of the Spirit? It involves putting our own preferences and wants to the side and centering our attention on what it is that God wants for our lives instead. It is making a conscious decision to love and serve one another in spite of the challenges that may arise. In addition, it involves acknowledging the fact that everyone of us is a component of the same body, which is the body of Christ, and that we are dependent on one another for healthy operation.

Unity is both a goal and a byproduct for Christians. On the one hand, unity is a goal that Christians are called to pursue. The Bible calls on us to "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3, NIV). We are to strive for unity in our relationships with other believers, seeking to live in harmony and peace with one another.

On the other hand, unity is also a byproduct of living a Christ-centered life. When we put our faith in Jesus and submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit, we become part of the body of Christ. As we grow in our relationship with God and with other believers, we naturally begin to experience a sense of unity and oneness that comes from our shared faith and purpose.

So, while unity is a goal that we are called to pursue, it is also something that flows naturally from our relationship with Christ and our commitment to living as part of his body. As we grow in our love for God and for one another, we will find ourselves drawn into deeper levels of unity and fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

If we as Christians are going to experience genuine unity in the body of Christ, we are obligated to work toward the fulfillment of three primary goals. The first one is having a relationship with Jesus. It is imperative that we make Him the focal point of our hearts and the axis around which our lives revolve. The second one is to strive toward a life of service. We have to be willing to put the requirements of others ahead of our own, and we have to be willing to put our skills and abilities to use in order to edify the body of Christ. And finally, the third is striving to be virtuous. We have a responsibility to work toward living lives that are exemplary in terms of morality and integrity, constantly endeavoring to do what is just in God's eyes.

If we wish to experience genuine unity inside the church, it is extremely necessary for us to pursue these three goals, which may appear to be intimidating. We will never be able to attain the type of unity that God has in mind for us if we do not have a common focus on Jesus, a readiness to serve one another, and a commitment to leading lives that are virtuous.

But when we do seek these things — when we make Jesus the center of our lives, when we serve one another without expecting anything in return, and when we live lives that are exemplary in terms of morality — we will experience the type of togetherness that can only come from God. As we grow in our relationship with God, we will notice that we are growing closer to one another, and as we work together, we will be able to do a lot of wonderful things for His kingdom.

We Pursue Jesus

We Pursue Serving

We Pursue Virtue

Let’s break those down and see how we apply them to our lives today.

We Pursue Jesus

Jesus Christ is the one and only true center of unity. In John 17:21, Jesus prays to the Father, "that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me." The purpose of this prayer is for the world to acknowledge that Jesus was sent by the Father. Jesus is implying here that the unity of his disciples is supposed to mirror the unity of the Godhead in its entirety. Therefore, if we wish to experience genuine unity among Christians, we must first pursue a connection with Jesus, who is the source of that unity. Only then will we be able to experience true unity among believers.

Having a relationship with Jesus enables us to love others as much as we love ourselves. Jesus teaches his disciples in the book of Matthew 22:37-40, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." This is the greatest and most important of all the commandments. The second one is quite similar to the first one, and it says, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." The entire Law and all of the Prophets hang on a thread from these two commands. As we follow Jesus and develop in our love for him, we also grow in our ability to love others as much as we love ourselves. This ability is summarized in the Golden Rule. This is an essential aspect of unity, since it permits us to prioritize the requirements and pursuits of others over our own wants and goals.

Pursuing Jesus encourages us to die to ourselves. Paul writes in Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Paul is referring to the fact that Christ died in Paul's place after Paul was crucified with Christ. When we choose to follow Jesus, we accept the invitation to let go of our own whims and aspirations and instead live for his purposes in our lives. This selflessness is necessary for unity as it enables us to put the interests of the group ahead of our own individual interests, which is the best way to ensure that the group succeeds.

Imagine you're hiking in the woods and you come across a group of people who are all looking at a map and arguing about which way to go. One person says they should head east, while another says they should head west. No one can agree on which way to go, and they're all getting frustrated and confused.

Then a park ranger walks up and says, "I can see you're all lost. Let me show you the way." He pulls out his own map and points to a path that leads directly to the lookout tower at the top of the mountain. "Follow this path," he says, "and you'll find your way."

In the same way, when we pursue Jesus, we have a clear path to follow. We don't have to argue or debate about which way to go. We simply follow Him, and He leads us to the destination He has planned for us. When we pursue Jesus, we have the guidance and direction we need to navigate through life's challenges and reach our ultimate goal of being with Him forever.

We Pursue Service

Serving others helps build relationships. When we go out of our way to help other people, we are sending a clear message that we care about them deeply. This contributes to the development of trust and improves connections, both of which are necessary elements for cohesiveness. In John 13:34 and 35, Jesus gives his disciples a new commandment, saying, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." If you have love for one another, then everyone will be able to see that you are following in my footsteps and are my disciples.

The act of serving others produces humility. When we assist other people, we are prioritizing the fulfillment of their requirements over our own. This calls for humility, which is a vital quality for those who want togetherness. Paul states in Philippians 2:3-4, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others."

Serving others and providing for their needs helps to foster togetherness. Serving other people is attending to their practical needs. Because of this, tension and conflict, which can emerge when individuals feel abandoned or disregarded, are helped to be alleviated. James states in James 2:15-17, "If a brother or sister is without clothes and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,' but you do not give them what is essential for their body, what use is that? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and if one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,' what use is that? Even so, faith is useless in and of itself if it does not produce any acts.

Imagine there are two persons that do not get along with one another. They have been bickering and disputing with one another for several weeks, and the tension that exists between them is quite obvious. One day, they are both at a community event in which volunteers are providing food to people who are in need of it. The two people are placed on the same serving line, and they immediately begin to collaborate with one another in order to serve the other customers. They start talking to one another and exchanging stories while they work side by side. They come to the conclusion that they share more in common than they previously believed and that the concerns that drive each of them are same. By the time the event is over, they have reconciled their differences and have grown to become good friends.

This example highlights how serving others may create unity by bringing individuals together and providing opportunities to form relationships with one another. We are compelled to set aside our differences and cooperate with one another in order to achieve the objective we share when we serve others. By doing so, we frequently discover that we have more in common than we originally believed and that we are capable of constructing connections that are far more robust than we could have ever expected.

We Pursue Virtue

Virtue fosters moral excellence. When we make the effort to pursue virtue, we are making the effort to live a life that is distinguished by righteousness. This indicates that we are working hard to live up to the greatest ethical standards possible and to treat other people with respect and dignity in our daily interactions with them. This is absolutely necessary for unity, as it assists in the development of trust and respect amongst different people. Peter states in 2 Peter 1:5-7, "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love." In other words, "Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control." This text highlights the significance of cultivating virtue and demonstrates how doing so may lead to feelings of mutual attachment and love, both of which are necessary components of unity.

Humility is fostered through virtue. When we strive towards virtue, we are also making an effort to lead a life that is marked by humility. This indicates that we are prepared to put the wants and desires of others above our own and to serve others, even if doing so requires us to put our own requirements and wishes on hold. This is absolutely necessary for unity, as it paves the way for us to cultivate strong and healthy connections with one another and others. Paul states in Philippians 2:3-4, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit," which means one should not act motivated by their own desires. Instead, demonstrate the virtue of humility by putting the needs of others ahead of your own and looking out not for your own interests but for the interests of others around you. This verse highlights the significance of humility and how it may lead to unity and harmony among Christians. It also describes how humility can lead to unity and harmony.

Virtue encourages love. When we make the effort to cultivate virtue, we are also making the effort to lead loving lives. This indicates that we are making an effort to love God as well as to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Because it brings us together in a shared tie of fellowship and friendship, love serves as the essential element upon which unity is built. Paul pens these words on love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: "Love is patient, love is kind. It is not envious, it does not boast, and it does not take itself too seriously. It does not bring disgrace to others, does not seek its own advantage, does not provoke rage quickly, and does not preserve a record of wrongs done. Love takes joy in the truth rather than in evil and does not take pleasure in it. It never fails to safeguard, never loses faith, never gives up, and never gives up hope. This scripture places a strong emphasis on the value of love and demonstrates how it is the catalyst for unity and harmony among Christians.

Imagine you're walking in a park and you see a beautiful flower garden. As you get closer, you notice that the garden is not only beautiful but also well-maintained. The grass is perfectly trimmed, the flowers are arranged neatly, and there are no weeds in sight. It's clear that the gardener has put in a lot of time and effort to create this beautiful space.

In the same way, pursuing virtue is like tending to a garden. It takes time and effort to cultivate good character and become more Christ-like. Just as a gardener must water, fertilize, and weed their garden regularly to keep it healthy and thriving, we must cultivate virtue by practicing things like honesty, patience, kindness, and self-control.

By pursuing virtue, we become better equipped to love and serve others, which in turn promotes unity within the body of Christ.

As we contemplate the significance of committing our life to pursue Jesus, to pursue service to others, and to pursue virtue, it is critical that we put these ideas into practice and incorporate them into our day-to-day activities. We have an obligation to acknowledge that our pursuit of unity calls for purposeful effort as well as a readiness to collaborate with one another to achieve shared objectives.

First and foremost, we have to make the decision to work toward developing a closer connection with Jesus. This demands us to make space in our schedules for the practice of prayer, the reading of the Bible, and the contemplation of Jesus's life and teachings. As our comprehension of Jesus' love and grace deepens, we will become more prepared to love and serve individuals in our immediate environment, as well as to collaborate with one another in order to realize a shared vision of unity.

The second thing that we need to do is look for ways that we can help others in our neighborhood. This may be helping out at a local soup kitchen or homeless shelter, reaching out to a neighbor who is struggling, or taking part in a community service initiative organized by our church or another community organization. We show our affection for one another and contribute to the development of a better, more cohesive community when we serve those who are less fortunate than ourselves.

The third is that we need to make a resolute effort to develop more virtuous character qualities in our life. This could require cultivating patience in the face of misfortune, demonstrating kindness to those who are difficult to love, or exercising humility in our dealings with other people. Pursuing virtue makes us more equipped to love and serve the people around us, as well as to collaborate with others toward the achievement of shared goals.

Imagine for a moment that you are standing at the edge of a deep and treacherous chasm, with no way to cross to the other side. As you stand there, feeling hopeless and alone, you hear a voice calling out to you from the other side. It is a voice of love and compassion, of kindness and generosity. The voice urges you to take a step of faith, to trust in its promises, and to reach out your hand in faith.

As you do, you feel a warm and powerful hand grasp yours, pulling you across the chasm to safety. Looking up, you see that it is not just one hand, but many, all reaching out to you in love and unity, forming a bridge across the divide.

This, my friends, is the power of unity. It is the power of a community of believers who reach out their hands in love and compassion, forming a bridge across the divides that separate us. When we work together in unity, we can accomplish things that we could never do on our own. We can overcome our differences, reconcile our conflicts, and build a community that reflects God's love to the world.

So let us go forth from this place, committed to pursuing unity in our lives, in our churches, and in our communities. Let us reach out our hands in love and compassion, and let us build bridges across the divides that separate us. For in doing so, we will reflect the love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and we will bring hope and healing to a broken and divided world.