Maintaining the Bond of Peace

As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received: with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, and with diligence 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 4:1–6


Paul writes these words from prison, urging believers to live in a way that honors the calling they have received. That calling is not only to salvation but also to a life that reflects Christ’s character—humility, gentleness, patience, and loving endurance toward others. Unity among believers is not something we create; it is the work of the Holy Spirit. But it is something we are called to preserve with diligence, which means guarding it against gossip, pride, bitterness, and anything else that tears at the fabric of peace. Paul roots this unity in our shared foundation: one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.

Preserving unity requires both attentiveness and sacrifice. It means recognizing that every believer we encounter is someone Christ died to redeem. It calls us to be bridge-builders in a culture that prizes division, to speak with grace even when disagreement lingers, and to remain patient with the imperfections of others—just as God is patient with ours. The “bond of peace” is not a fragile truce but a living covenant formed by the Spirit, strengthened each time we choose love over discord.

Is there a relationship where you need to take an intentional step to preserve unity or restore peace? What attitudes or habits most often threaten the bond of peace in your life or within your community of faith? How can remembering our shared foundation—one Lord, one faith, one baptism—reshape the way you view other believers?

Today, pray for wisdom and courage to reach out—whether it’s to apologize, to clarify a misunderstanding, or simply to affirm your commitment to walk together in the bond of peace.


Father, 

Thank You for the unity You have given through Your Spirit. Teach me to walk in humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with others in love. Help me to be diligent in preserving the unity of the Spirit and to be a source of peace in the body of Christ. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

-

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