Feb 18

“Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3

As can easily be verified by a reading of the Epistles, even from its beginnings, the church was adversely affected by the factions, divisions and strife so common and peculiar to our flawed human nature. The exhortation before us is a hearty encouragement to work hard and consistently, at the maintenance of the ONE mind and accord, identifying the ONE Body of Christ, into which we have all been baptised by the ONE Holy Spirit! There is no division in God! His unity should be reflected in us as His people. Firstly, by each of us being truly one with Him. This means taking on His life, His ways, His will, and making it our own, and in this way aligning ourselves with Him. Secondly, by being united one with another, in purpose, manner, desire, peace and love. This harmony clearly does not happen automatically, nor is it our natural bent. It takes effort, and it is a clear Christian duty and endeavour, to instigate and keep the kind of unity and accord which pleases God, and correctly reflects His nature. Without God’s Spirit in us, and a willingness on our part to yield to His influence, we will not be able to remain close, even less in true concord. This is one of the wonderful aspects of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, which God pours into each believer, when we come to salvation! God’s Spirit strives in us, to preserve the unity God desires in His church. When we yield our personal preferences, agendas and control, to the Holy Ghost, and humbly follow His lead, we place ourselves in the best and most favourable position, to help maintain the kind of harmony and connection, God wants for His people. Our carnally induced contentions, frictions, criticisms and discontents, cannot but produce divisions and obstruct the condition of peace and unity, which must exist among believers. The bond of peace is a strong bond if we remain ‘in the Spirit’, but can conversely become fragile, when we step out of the flow of the Spirit of God and into our own fleshly mode. Those who claim to be believers yet insist on bellicose opinions, antagonistic behaviour, negative conversations and contentious unedifying attitudes, are not walking worthy of the vocation of peace-keeping to which the Lord Jesus has called us, and which we must in all humility of heart fulfil.

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion

Jan 12

“….that they be of the same mind in the Lord.” Philippians 4:2

We are throughout scripture instructed and encouraged to strive for the unity of the faith. Although this is to be done without compromise of the main core tenets of the faith, it is intended to be a necessary exercise, practiced by all who profess to follow Jesus. Unity in the faith is achieved through choosing the bond of peace, the attitude that prioritises others instead of ourselves. Rivalry and self-ism is inappropriate and dangerous among believers. We are therefore to make efforts towards a one-mindedness, finding common ground on which to stand and unite our efforts for the Kingdom. This is not to say that we are all to be mere ‘rubber-stamp- copies of each other, but rather that we should all draw closer to the mind of Christ, and in imitating Him, be in fact nearer in mind, heart and purpose to each other. Like a team on one side of the rope in a ‘tug-a-war’, though each member grips in a different place on the rope, yet all pull together, have the same goal and contribute to the same victory! Being of one mind, still allows for our personal and individual growth, personality and approach to various aspects of life, but standardises what we believe, how we respond to matters regarding Christian living, and what we preach to the lost around us. One-mindedness causes us to recognise what God is doing with our fellow-believers and without envy and resentment, and genuinely support the work they do. When we insist on individuality, personal superiority and recognition, ahead of keeping ‘one-mind’ humility in the message of Christ, we will end up in divisions and debates, and the very cause of Christ we uphold will suffer. There is much to be said for the beauty, peace and harmony that come from a genuine ‘one-mind’ approach to Christian life. The women mentioned in our text, though they had possibly co-operated in the work of God, had probably at some stage, and through circumstances, become estranged. This kind of distancing places a burden on the body of Christ, for any such division between brethren of precious like faith, is felt and noticeable. Paul exhorts them and pleads for differences to be put aside and oneness restored, that God’s work may be done in a spirit of true unity and love. This is good advice to all of us believers today!

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion