# 22 2018 Dev. Eph. 4:4-6. Unity in Christ! Read verses 1-16. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Eph. 4:4-6 “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Paul ended Ch. 3 with: “to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” To God be glory in the church along with the glory of Christ, setting the church on a high plane. Therefore, Paul urges the Ephesians to live up to their calling, be worthy of what God is doing through you. And Paul is the example “as a prisoner for the Lord.” Paul is not blowing his own horn but he is saying to the Ephesians and to us be worthy, “be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love,” making every effort at peace. Be willing to suffer to keep the peace and if necessary, be willing to suffer to fulfill your call from God.
God calls us and He gives us the gifts we need to fulfill His call on our lives. Paul mentions only a few gifts but all gifts come from God by way of the Holy Spirit.Paul here quotes Ps. 68:18 signifying Christ’s triumphal ascension back to the Father as one who has conquered all evil and now fills the whole universe. He is the one who gives gifts: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, “to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up… attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”
That is the goal, we leave our worldly ways behind, Paul mentions those ways but let us put this in our own context. How are we worldly today? What is preventing our growth “to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ “? You know, you are the only one to know if you are living up to the calling received from God. Thanks be to God for the gifts He has given all of us, His Spirit guides us and prepares the way for us to be built up in love as we build up others, brothers, sisters and those who have not yet experienced the love of Christ. Let us pray for the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives as we live out God’s love for us, Amen!
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