Bear with one another in love; be humble, meek and patient in every way with one another. Make every effort to guard the unity that the spirit gives, with your lives bound together in peace. Ephesians 4:2–3 (BFE)
Everything works better when put together correctly. Have you ever seen people trying to force a puzzle piece where it didn’t really fit? When a piece of equipment is assembled according to specifications things run smoothly. The body of Christ functions optimally when we are bound together in peace.
Peace rarely comes easily. For this reason, the apostle tells us to make every effort. To work toward peace requires that we bear with one another in love. We must also be humble, meek, and patient. How important is peace? For one, it makes our task of letting the world know that there is a God in heaven who loves them a lot easier. Peace is required for unity. And it is unity that speaks loudly before the world. As Jesus said:
“I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. John 17:22–23 (NLT)
If we allow our pride to get in the way of our mission, it makes the task more difficult. Every year, the churches around the world spend countless money in evangelism efforts. How much easier and effective would we be if we maintained the unity of the spirit?
Make Every Effort
Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:13–14 (NLT)
We have a job to do, and we must get rid of anything that hinders our progress toward the Commission that Jesus gave us. When we hold on to offenses, and we are unable to forgive, our witness is damaged. We are putting ourselves above the mission. Paul tells us that we must make allowance for each other’s faults.
Jesus was even stronger on the consequences of unforgiveness than Paul: “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14–15 (NLT) We can easily see that there are consequences not only to the mission, but to our relationship with God when we do not forgive.
Something else that we see in this passage from Colossians; Instead of being bound together in unity, we are bound together in harmony. Harmony is still unity, but it accounts for the various roles that we all play. It acknowledges our differences, and the result is pleasing to God, and to others.
Orchestras are sometimes referred to as philharmonic. This literally means a love of harmony. It is not a stretch to say that each of God’s people and churches should be philharmonic. It takes effort, and not everyone is able to sing the melody. But it is not about the role that we play individually, instead it is the resulting appeal that the world will find attractive.
The Beauty of Working Together
Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Philippians 2:1–2 (NLT)
Parents are overjoyed when they see their children playing or working together harmoniously. Paul was a spiritual parent. It is when the people of God are working together that we have the greatest impact for the Kingdom of God. When we take our eyes off of our own problems and situations, and look to Christ, the world will know and respond.
Paul explains further: Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Philippians 2:3–5 (NLT)
What was the key to the explosive growth of the New Testament church? Was it not that they were unselfish, and concerned about the needs of others? The world speaks of coexisting. Jesus tells us to love one another. It may not be easy to lay aside our own concerns, and focus on the needs of others, but when we do we set a great example.
The Greatest Gift
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. John 14:27 (NLT)
The world has nothing to give that can compare with what Christ has given to us. We live in a fallen world, and there will always be times of difficulty. The early church rejoiced when they suffered as followers of Christ. We must not believe those who tell us that when we come to Jesus, it will be the end of our troubles. Jesus warned us:
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NLT)
When we are bound together in peace, there are wonderful possibilities. We have seen that Jesus has told us that the world will notice when we live in unity and harmony. We will not have to work as hard to convince the world of the greatness of God’s love for them when they see us loving one another.
When we learn to take all of our cares and worries and give them over to God, and when we tell God what we need and thank him for what he has done: Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 (NLT). There is nothing like being bound together in peace!
Steve Ekeroth
Leave a Reply