Our bodies have many different kinds of members, and they all serve each other. The stomach and the hand need the heart to supply them with blood and life and strength. And so it is with the church as the body of Christ. There are many members, many kinds of members, and many different places where they are situated. They are people from every nation, tongue, and tribe. And that body is all designed by God in inscrutable wisdom. That is also the truth for us to bear in mind and remember every day and in all things.
Therefore Paul in Ephesians 4:3 wrote: "Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Plainly Paul is pointing out that as members of the body of Christ, the church, we must strive to live in love to each other and to serve each other. Only in that way do we reveal the church as one body.
"Endeavoring" is striving to keep the unity or oneness of the body of Christ, which is His church. And "in the bond of peace" means that we seek each other's good, and are willing to listen while others talk, or speak when other members reveal the need of our speaking. All the members of the church must work together for the good of the other members. The eye must see and the ear hear for the good not only of the feet and hands, but also of the inner organs and their safety and well-being. The members must serve each other and not domineer.
The Spirit of Christ has brought us all together in a loving connection. We must live in unity of love. For if we do not, we are not simply militating against other members, but we are going against Christ the Head, and behaving as though we are the head.
Keep the unity and cast away all enmity that destroys the bond of peace.
Read: I Corinthians 12
Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Job 1-2 ; Job 3:1-26
I Corinthians 14:1-17
Psalm 37:12-29
Proverbs 21:25-26
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Quote for Reflection:
"Christ's sheep do not contribute any part of their own wool to their own clothing. They wear, and are justified by, the fine linen of Christ's obedience only." ~ Augustus Toplady
Additional Info
- Date: 21-August
