As we continue this journey seeking the good way, let’s continue to remember the 10 Commandments, last weeks reminder from Jeremiah 616 was that we have reached the crossroads, we need to stop to think and consider and to pray and then continue on our journey to seek the good way, hopefully having chosen the right path. This week we will add to those two pieces of information this, the importance of unity within the faith and among the body of believers. Our scripture this week can be found in Ephesians chapter 4 versus one through three and verses 15 and 16.

“Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.”

Ephesians 4: 1-3 calls for believers to live a life worthy of their Christian, calling by practicing virtues, like humility, gentleness, and patience, while bearing with one another in love to maintain the spiritual unity of the church. It urges believers to make every effort to preserve the unity of the spirit through peace. If we take the time to detail that just a bit, we might say that Paul, who is a prisoner for Christ urges believers to live in a way that is consistent with the high calling they have received from God. Paul goes on to remind them about the key virtues of this life that would make that possible, they are listed above, but shortly speaking, just humility, gentleness, and patience towards others goes a long way to enhance the unity of the faith. It’s important that we maintain that unity of the faith in love, a crucial aspect of this conduct is to be patient, and bear with one another in love, and make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. Now all of this is fine, but it requires one thing that is sometimes missing within the church today, an active effort is required. The passage itself emphasizes that maintaining unity isn’t automatic; it requires a diligent effort and making a conscious choice to forgive and work through conflict.

Now let’s move onto that second set of versus Ephesians 4:15–16.

“15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”

In these verses, Paul describes the church as the body of Christ united under Christ as the head, and explains that it grows in maturity by every member working together in love. He challenges believers to speak the truth to one another, but to do so in love, which helps the entire body mature into the likeness of Christ. This growth is facilitated as each part contributes to the hole, enabling the body to build itself up in love. A quick walk-through reveals the goal is for all believers to grow up in all aspects unto him who is the head that is Christ. We do so by speaking the truth in love. The method for growth is speaking the truth in love. This means honesty and kindly correcting and encouraging one another for the good of the whole body. Many the churches from the past and at least a few of the denominations today practice this interconnectedness. Paul by using the example of the body shows that every part is essential and connected with joints, holding the body together and supplying what is needed. Therefore, each members role within the body, contributes to the bodies growth by working properly and doing its part. So the combined efforts of each member working together in love results in the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Just a few thoughts to close on. On the way to “The Good Way” we can now add the unity of the body of believers as a sign we are on “The Good Way”. Please rejoin us next week as we continue this journey here in The Pew.

Life is Good

jk