Our scripture this morning is Ephesians 4:2-6.
Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.
Paul’s guidance could sometimes be a little rough. He had no patience with those who knew the truth of Christ but still followed their own way. However, in this passage we hear him at his very loving best, advising the Ephesian church on living together well.
He encourages us to make “allowance for each other’s faults because of your love” (v. 2). This teaching is especially applicable for us today when we find so many ways to separate ourselves from each other. Jesus taught us to live in harmony, and Paul writes that we must “make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace” (v. 3).
This lesson ends with the hope we have in Christ, of one body in Him and one spirit among us to go in His name. Jesus calls us all into His service. If we focus on our common blessing, being children of God, our other differences will become much less important.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of our very being. Help us to love each other as You first loved us. Amen.