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Love, Peace, Unity
4 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Ephesians 4:1-5 NKJV
Paul, a prisoner for his faith, is here encouraging believers to be humble, gentle, and to bear with each other in love.
If only we could follow this admonition and so deal with each person in our lives by truly loving them.
May unity of the Spirit and a bond of peace bind us all together in that true love.
There is indeed one body and one Spirit to which we are called, and it unites us all.
We share in one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father. We are united.
Christ’s Gift
7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says:
“When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.”
9 (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) Ephesians 4:7-10 NKJV
Christ died, rose, and ascended to God. He, however, did not leave us. In fact, Christ tells us that He will never leave us (Matthew chapter 28:19-20.) In a bit of time, the Day of Pentecost arrives and the Holy Spirit infills believers. We can still have the glorious infilling of the Holy Spirit in our lives as believers, if we ask God for His Holy Spirit of Love.
Furthermore, God gives gifts to equip us for the ministry. No, that does not mean only ministers.
All believers are called into a ministry of serving God and sharing Jesus with others. Read on:
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
These gifts that we have, we should share.
We should tell others of the fullness of Christ. Telling others the message of the gospel and speaking in truth and love will be our small part in sharing Jesus. If we speak the truth in love, others will hear and understand. The Holy Spirit will touch hearts so that believing will take place.
Made New
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:17-24 NKJV
It is now up to us to put off the old conduct, the old man if you will, and put on the new man.
Live now as God wants His children to live in righteousness and in holy living.
Don’t Grieve the Spirit
25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth,
but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:25-30 NKJV
Believers in Christ should follow Christ’s example.
Each should speak truth. No lying. No angry actions or words. Notice the passage is to be angry but not to sin. In other words, we can be angry when we hear of a terrible action against another, but we are not to act sinfully because of our anger. If you see a child abused, you get angry. However, don’t let your angry cause YOU to sin.
Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath.
Give no room to the devil in your dealings with others. Don’t steal, but work hard. Share. Watch your words. Say what is good and that which helps encourage others.
Let God’s love and grace flow through you to others.
Don’t live in such a way that you cause sorrow to the Holy Spirit Who has sealed us for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:31 NKJV
Lastly, let there be no bitterness, anger, evil words,or spitefulness be in your heart. Remember all the ways that God in Christ forgave you and therefore, be kind always, forgiving, loving each other in Christ.
This is a powerful chapter to live by.
May God help you as you do.