S134P4 – A message to Ephesus: only one
Eph. 4:1-6
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Our Savior tells us that the world will know his disciples by their love as they are to love one another the same way He loves. [Jn. 13:34-35] He set the example, and we are to follow it. The thing about the world is that everything is relative. You have your truth, and I have my truth. You have your definition of love, and I have mine. Jesus, however, spoke from one perspective. In stating that his disciples will be known by their love for one another, He is saying that this is a certain kind of love that is identifiable in some way. It is different than any other definition or standard of love. That is because God’s standard is true to what love actually is. There is one way for us to love one another correctly.
Today’s passage points to this Godly view of uniqueness. As we have explored previously, we are united in one Spirit, the Holy Spirit. He is actively working in us individually and corporately. That spiritual unity requires this unique love and results in God’s peace between us. Our single spiritual body is called to one common hope. We live different lives, but our hope is the same. We serve the same Lord. We have the same faith. We share in one baptism. Our God and Father is one. The uniqueness of God and all that He is and commands serves to lead us in one spiritual direction. It also helps us discern what is true and what is false. That which diverts from the absolute truth we find in God’s word must be put aside.
Paul urges the Church to walk worthy of her calling in the Lord, and there is a single way to do that. He lays it out here. As we each are part of the Church, how we treat her is how we treat ourselves. The commandment to love one another as we love ourselves [Mt. 22:39] takes shape in this urging to walk worthy of our joint calling. We cannot devise our own ways to remain faithful to this calling. Our ways will not yield a valuable result for the Church. Paul’s hope for believers in this instruction should be our goal in living in unity. Father, help us to have unwavering faith in your absolute truths and to walk in a manner worthy of our corporate calling to the glory of your name.