“Our Daily Bread” http://odb.org/
The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie
http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht
“Homily Grits Devotional” http://www.homilygrits.com

Written by Rob Barkman for “Settled In Heaven Ministries” @ http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/

Original web site @

SIH’s Think On These Things: Ephesians 4:2-3

SIH’s Think On These Things: Ephesians 4:2-3
“Reflections Of His Grace”

“That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

The Grace Of Unity: Ephesians 4:1-6
1) I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2) With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3) Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4) [There is] one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5) One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6) One God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all.

With this devotional, we are beginning the second division of the book of Ephesians. Previously, we have looked at “Reflections Of His Grace Revealed” (chaps 1-3). It that section, Paul revealed to us the gracious works of the Lord in the lives of His chosen people.

In this new section “Reflections Of His Grace Applied” (chaps 4-6) Paul will be explaining to us the practical effects of God’s grace in the lives of His people.

1. The Grace Of Unity (4:1-6)
2. The Grace Of Maturity (4:7-16)
3. The Grace Of Renewal (4:17-32)
4. The Grace Of Imitation (5:1-14)
5. The Grace Of Wisdom (5:15-21)
6. The Grace Of Relationships (5:22-33)
7. The Grace Of Authority/Submission (6:1-9)
8. The Grace Of Preparedness (6:10-21)

The first effect of God’s grace we will be looking at is the grace of UNITY (4:1-6). This is a very basic outline of this section of Scripture:
I. The responsibility of the Lord’s call upon His people (vs 1)
II. Characteristics of the grace of unity (vs 2-3)
III. Godly examples of unity found in the Lord and His people (vs 4-6)

EXPOSITION:

In this section, Paul shares with us some of the characteristics of those who have experienced the grace of unity in their lives…
(Ephesians 4:2-3) With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

When an individual has tasted of the grace of God in salvation and understand their calling, they will work for unity. The desire for unity will apply to any ministry to which the believer is called. This unity will include unity between members of the local assembly, members of our physical family and members of the family of God.

Paul gives us a list of attitudes and actions that will work towards peace.

Please keep in mind ALL of these can only take place in our lives through the gracious intervention and enabling of the Lord…

With all lowliness and meekness,

“all” – this reminds us that these attributes should appear in every area of our life. They should be displayed in “all” our being.
1. lowliness – a combination of humbleness and modesty
2. meekness – gentle, ability to keep power under control

with longsuffering,
3. longsuffering – “long passioned” to exercise controlled passion, not quickly nor without consideration

forbearing one another in love;
4. forbearing – to endure through self-sacrifice. In today’s language… to “put up” with others motivated by a self-sacrificial love for them.

All four of these characteristics are signs of love being present in the heart of the servant of God. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

There is something wrong with their “love” when those who claim to love one another enjoy conflict, disagreement, fighting and warring between themselves. These things ought not so to be…

“From whence [come] wars and fightings among you? [come they] not hence, [even] of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:1-4)

Endeavouring to keep the unity
We strive to be lowly, meek, longsuffering and forbearing so that we can swiftly and diligently protect the peaceful harmony that exists between ourselves and others. We are to ALWAYS desire and work for peace, harmony and unity, this is a Biblical principle found throughout the Bible…

(1 Corinthians 7:15)
“But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such [cases]: but God hath called us to peace.”
(1 Corinthians 14:33)
“For God is not [the author] of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”
(Romans 12:18)
“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”
(Romans 14:18-19)
“For he that in these things serveth Christ [is] acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”
(2 Corinthians 13:11)
“Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”

of the Spirit
This unity comes exclusively through the gracious intervention of Holy Spirit.

Please note the interesting point that Paul is making.. No matter how hard we try, we cannot obtain peace of our own efforts, although we are responsible to do all in our power to attain and keep it. We are to be sure our hearts are right and always striving for peace, but we cannot control what others may do. The Lord must intervene and work in the hearts of all the parties for peace to take place.

This same principle applies in so many differing ministries we may have. We are to be faithful in our given tasks, but God alone can bring success to our efforts….

“Who then is Paul, and who [is] Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.” (1 Corinthians 3:5-8)

in the bond of peace.
This unity is a bonding of individuals resulting in blessings of quietness and prosperity.

APPLICATION:

What a wonderful grace of the Lord…. to possess unity between ourselves and others.

What is our responsibility?
1. To love others…. this will result in a proper attitude towards them that will create an environment for unity to thrive.
2. To pray for the Lord’s intervention in the situation and bring about unity between the parties.

May we all get a clearer picture of our Lord and Savior, and the great grace He has shown to us. Let us be always watchful to keep His great acts of grace on our behalf in the center of our attention… In doing so, may we be motivated to LOVE Him more, APPRECIATE Him more and SERVE Him more!

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