Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3).
To better grasp our verse for the day, we must look at verses 1-6. Every believer came to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ through the invitation and convicting work of the Holy Spirit. Irrespective of your race, gender, age, accomplishments, or failures, the same Holy Spirit dwells in each one of us in the same measure. The Holy Spirit brings us into one body – the body of Christ.
The things that we share together because we are one body are the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ our Lord, God our Father, one hope, one faith, one baptism. This baptism is not the immersion into water, but rather it is what the Holy Spirit did – bringing us together to become the body of Christ. We are the different parts of the body all plugged and united so we can function. Jesus Christ in John 17 prayed that the believers will be united and be one as He and the Father are. Jesus’ prayer was answered when the Holy Spirit came and baptized us into one body and remains in us.
The challenge we have is to maintain the unity already brought about by the Holy Spirit. We are not being asked to come together and be united; rather, each one of us is to work hard to maintain unity through yielding to the Holy Spirit and the Word. The effective work of the Holy Spirit in us leads to harmony, which is peace. But He needs your cooperation and mine.
Author: Rev. Sunday Bwanhot
Rev. Sunday Bwanhot is a missionary with EMS/SIM. He pastor’s ECWA Chicago, serves as ECWA USA DCC Chairman and Team leader of SIM Culture Connexions.
