Preserve Unity

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
– Ephesians 4:2-6


Paul’s words here are not a vague suggestion—they are a calling. Be completely humble. Be gentle. Be patient. Bear with one another in love. And make every effort—not some effort, not occasional effort, but every effort—to keep the unity that comes from God’s Spirit.

Unity doesn’t mean we all think the same way. It means we share the same Spirit, the same Lord, and the same hope. That unity already exists because of God—it’s our task to preserve it. And the only way to do that is with humility, gentleness, patience, and love.

Preserving unity requires grace. It requires holding space for those who see the world differently, who interpret Scripture differently, or who prioritize different spiritual concerns. It doesn’t mean we never speak the truth—but it means we always speak it in love. We remember that we are not many rival bodies—we are one body, called by one Lord, held together by one Spirit.


Questions

1. What challenges you most about preserving unity with other believers?

2. How can humility and gentleness change the way you respond to differences?

3. In what ways can you help strengthen the bond of peace in your Christian relationships?


Suggested Activity

Today, ask God to bring to mind someone in the body of Christ whom you’ve had difficulty bearing with. Take a moment to pray a blessing over their life and thank God that, even in your differences, you are both part of the same body with the same hope.


Prayer

Father, 

You are over all, through all, and in all. You have brought me into Your family by grace, and You’ve joined me with others who follow You. Help me to live humbly and gently with them. Teach me to be patient and to bear with others in love. Let me be a keeper of peace, not a stirrer of strife. Remind me that unity is Your gift—and my calling to preserve.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

- 

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