Daily Devotion 22nd August 2018

It would seem, from the language Paul uses, that he was also fully aware of how difficult this is.   He pleads with the church to make every effort, and to do so with humility, gentleness and patience – to bear one another in love.  And why? Because of our oneness in Christ. In verses 4 – 6 he uses the word ‘one’ seven times – one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God.  This says to me that Paul cannot stress enough how important one-ness is for those who are one in Christ.

So how does this play out in the life of the Church today?  At times it seems that we are further than ever from realising the vision that Paul had for the Church – although I hope this isn’t true.  As the United Reformed Church we know only too well the effort it takes to ‘maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace’. But Paul speaks to us as individuals too.  He urges us to have the grace to recognise Christ in others, and with the Spirit’s help, so treat them as though each were part of us – which, of course, they are.