Reflection on Ephesians 4:1-16

Scripture
There is only one Spirit of God, just as you were given one hope when you were chosen to be God's people. We have only one Lord, one faith and one baptism.

Observation
Paul's concern in this passage is the unity of faith which comes from maturity in Christ. There is one God, one faith, one hope, one salvation. We belong together.

God gives certain gifts, often called ministry gifts, to the church. These gifts are actually people- apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers- and their role is to help the Body grow to strength, maturity and unity.

Application
I get so frustrated by inter-church politics. It drives me crazy sometimes that church leaders, in particular, claim to support unity but actually do much to undermine unity,

Many pastors and other ministers are about building their own personal empire rather than the Kingdom of God.

Paul makes it clear that we need to be about building the whole Body.

This is not unity based one everybody being the same or meeting in the same place. This is an organic unity recognised first of all by those in leadership and then by all christians.

We need to all work harder at honouring, helping and loving our brothers and sisters in the Lord, especially those who worship in different settings to our own.

Prayer
Father, forgive me for the times I have dishonoured your Body by failing to love those who go to other churches. Help me to build up those from different traditions so that the whole body may be built up. Amen.