Gifts of Grace (Ephesians 4:7-8)

“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.”” (Ephesians 4:7–8, NASB95)

We started reading our Advent verses on the 1^st. Last week we put up our Christmas tree last week, and today I finally got around to putting lights on the house. Christmas is coning quickly and anticipation is high. In less than 10 days the gifts will be received as the presents are opened. With that I am hopeful that the recipients are filled with joy and not disappointed in what they receive.

After writing about the unity of the body as we are one under God according to the will of the Father through the shed blood and life of Christ and being sealed, bound and empowered by the Spirit, Paul turns here to the individuals who comprise the church—the body of Christ. Realizing that we are one, Paul adds that in this oneness we all are uniquely saved and gifted. It’s is by God’s grace that we are all saved. There is not a single person who deserved anything from God. We have all sinned and fallen short of His perfect glory and we are all separated from Him in judgment except for His grace. Ephesians 2:8 says that it is “by grace that we are saved….” And this grace was shown to us because God sent His Son, Jesus, conceived by the Holy Spirit to be born of a virgin and then eventually go to a cross as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Jesus Christ graced us by taking the penalty for our sins so that we might receive the forgiveness of God and be given eternal life. The amazing thing in all of this is that God calls all of us as different people with different issues to Himself and He does not lose a single one. His grace is perfect for our salvation and it is given to us because Jesus died, was buried, and rose again just as God said. There was no group salvation, but individuals believing and being saved according to Christ’s gift to us.

While people are focused on Christmas and the gifts, at the heart of Christmas is that the Christ came as a baby to be the greatest gift ever given to man—a relationship forever with God. So, as I think about the lights being turned on today and I think about these verses I am mindful that Jesus is truly the light of the world through whom we are saved.

This is grace. It is the what we refer to as the gospel message, the good news that God has sent His Son to save man who is not worthy. God is the one who freely gave this gift to us, and it as absolutely nothing to do with anything we have done or might ever do. It is unearned and undeserved!

Continuing with the uniqueness of Christ’s gift to us, just as we are saved by grace so are we graced to be specially gifted for His service. The Spirit of God works in us to open our eyes so that we can believe and be saved, and the Spirit gifts us so that we can serve after our salvation. In Romans 12:6 we read, “Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly….” (Romans 12:6, NASB95) Again grace is at the center. We were graced to be saved and we are graced to be able to walk and serve afterward. And in this gifting we are uniquely enabled is such a way that we work together in our uniqueness to build up the singular body of Christ—the church.

Verse 8 is most likely an application of Psalm 68:18, “You have ascended on high, You have led captive Your captives; You have received gifts among men, even among the rebellious also, that the Lord God may dwell there.” (Psalm 68:18, NASB95) This psalm begins with the words, “Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered, and let those who hate Him flee before Him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish before God. But let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God; Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.” (Psalm 68:1–3, NASB95)

Jesus conquered death and He reigns as the victor. He brings those who are His with Him and He gives them freely of all that He has. He also sits as judge over those who do not believe. This is His right given to Him by the Father and evidenced by His death, burial, and resurrection. Sin and death and the evil one are conquered. Satan may still seem to be having a hay day among men, but his days are numbered and his defeat is already settled. Jesus reigns at the right hand of the Father and He is active through the power of the Spirit to save and to gift—bought and paid for!! 

One God over All (Ephesians 4:6)

“…one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:6, NASB95)

Our country's Pledge of Allegiance currently has the words “under God” in it. Though the earliest pledge by Colonel George Balch, a veteran of the Civil War (1923), did include giving our hearts to God, the first adopted pledge did not include such wording. However, over time as outside forces appeared to threaten the fabric of the country certain entities started adding such wording. Then by a joint act of Congress, the words “under God” were signed into law on Flag Day, June 14, 1954, by President Dwight Eisenhower.

Now, a half-century later, legal challenges continue to mount to not only strike these words but to strike all visible monuments and recognized wording or prayers reflecting or referring to Christianity, Judaism, the Ten Commandments, and symbols such as crosses and nativities from public lands, commentaries, government meetings, and whatever other arena they might attack. In a country that once was a haven for the religiously persecuted, now having faith in God has become cause itself for persecution in a variety of forms.

Contrast that to it not being uncommon today to see bumper stickers that say “coexist,” “believe” or even “unite.” But when you look at them you see that the letters and surrounding icons are those that are representative of various world religions or beliefs. Their message is that as humans we are to embrace all humans as one and to accept their beliefs as equally valid and even correct “for them.” It would be great if behind this was a recognition that all men were created by God in His image and bear what is uniquely given to man by Him regardless of whether he believes it or not. But these stickers and those who mount them on their vehicles or carry them in their hearts do not come from this viewpoint as much as from a position that all paths are right as long as you believe it. They all imply that there is a common good and they seem to promote a common human welfare, and since there is no single authoritative rule giver (in their minds) all rules and paths are equally valid. Of course, they are equally valid as long as you don’t hold to a position that excludes all of the others as being truth and truthful.

It is because of this intolerance for absolute tolerance that Christians today are not tolerated in the public arena. It is because a minority of voices have gained a popular hearing with businesses, politicians, and courts that Christians are even being restricted in what they can do and say in the public square or even in the course of their business. Even today in our current election cycle there are politicians of Christian faith who are sharing their concerns about issues of abortion, marriage, and even Muslim immigration who are being called bigoted and un-American. Because of their faith they cannot join with others in embracing positions which are inconsistent with their faith, and for that they are being ostracized.

While much of the world may be denying God and seeking to quiet and even persecute those who do, the truth of Scripture remains, and that is that God Himself has declared that He is one. There is no other God beside Him. All others gods are false. Even the power of the evil one, or the god of this world, is subject to the power of the one true God.

This stands as a message for judgment for all who reject Him, but it also stands as a reminder of the incredible unity that those who believe have with one another. Not being a divided God, when we are united in Him we are united as one into our God who is one. Every single believer is united in Him, and He is in them. While the world might seek a superficial oneness that tolerates everything and in the end stands for nothing. But being in Him we stand with our God who does not change and who will accomplish all that He set out to do which even includes a final end where there is eternal separation of those who names are in the Book of Life because of His Son, entering His presence forever, and those who are not who receive eternal judgment and separation. In light of this, there really is no choice for me. It is far better to belong to God and be held by Him though persecuted, than to be adored by men and judged forever.

One God and Father (Ephesians 4:6)

“(4) There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; (5) one Lord, one faith, one baptism, (6) one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4–6, NASB95)

In these three verses we see together the fullness of our God who is one yet exists in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Scripture declares repeatedly that God is one and that there is no other besides Him. A typical doctrinal statement for churches might read, “There is one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”

We see this in passages such as Deuteronomy 4:35 where we read starting with verse 32, “Indeed, ask now concerning the former days which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and inquire from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything been done like this great thing, or has anything been heard like it? Has any people heard the voice of God speaking from the midst of the fire, as you have heard it, and survived? Or has a god tried to go to take for himself a nation from within another nation by trials, by signs and wonders and by war and by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm and by great terrors, as the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? To you it was shown that you might know that the Lord, He is God; there is no other besides Him.” (Deuteronomy 4:32–35, NASB95) There is no other god from creation who exists other than the Lord who is God alone. This is the message declared before the people of Israel. Later in Deuteronomy we read again, “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4, NASB95) … “See now that I, I am He, and there is no god besides Me; it is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, and there is no one who can deliver from My hand.” (Deuteronomy 32:39, NASB95)

With the coming of Jesus we find Him repeatedly in the gospels submitting to the will of the Father, distinguishing Himself from Him as the Son who was sent. Speaking to those who did not believe Him, “Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”” (John 10:25–30, NASB95)

In John we read that it is Jesus who knew the Father because He was from God. “Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father.” (John 6:46, NASB95) And later He added in speaking to one of His disciples, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” (John 14:9, NASB95) Philip had asked Jesus to show them the Father, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” (John 14:8, NASB95) And Jesus’ response was clearly stated—“He who has seen Me has seen the Father.”

And not only has God made Himself known through the Son, but as Paul wrote in chapter 1 of Romans, He has made Himself known in His creation and the very things that He has put into the hearts of ALL. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:18–20, NASB95)

And for us who have been called to salvation by faith in His Son we have the incredible privilege of being a part of His working in and through us. “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.” (1 Corinthians 12:4–6, NASB95)

In these three verses as in many others we clearly see that our God is real, that He is One, and that He has not only shown Himself to us, but has reached into our lives and drawn us to Him into a relationship that will never end. There is only one God, and not many paths to God as some declare. God is not Allah. God is not of the earth. God is not found in some form of transcendence of continual improvement through various manifestations of life. And God the Father is not separate from the Spirit or the Son.

God is found in us because of His Son. We are temples of His Spirit. And through us others are brought to see Him and come to know His Son as the Spirit opens their eyes. This is how God intends it that we are His ambassadors, His cracked vessels through which the light of life shines through, and His voices proclaiming truth into a dark and desperately lost world.

As members of His body the church we are to be reminded that it is God who makes us to be one. We are bound together by the blood of His Son and we are indwelt by His Spirit. As such we are to constantly carry that oneness in our hearts as we walk with one another showing love through our deference toward and our support of each other. It is in Christ that we are made one and it is Him who is head over His church.

Paul’s last words to the Corinthian believers recorded for us are, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” (2 Corinthians 13:14, NASB95) Amen.

Thanksgiving

Hebrews 13:15. Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. 

I have not posted in a week, but am expecting to resume doing so by next Tuesday (December 1st).

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism (Ephesians 4:5)

“(4) There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; (5) one Lord, one faith, one baptism, (6) one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4–6, NASB95)

Contrary to the belief of many, there are not many paths to God. There is not a multiplicity of faiths all leading to the same end. Scripture declares that there is only one Lord who is Jesus Christ and there is only one faith which is found in Him though His death, burial and resurrection.

The hope we have of verse 4 is because of the Lord of verse 5 who is Jesus Christ sent by God the Father. Throughout verses 4 through 6 we see loud and clear that not only is God one, but so is the salvation which He gives. There is no other way to be saved and once we are saved we are knit together by God into one body which He has called us to preserve in the unity that we have according to our hope in the power of His Spirit. With all of the stuff that rises up and with the pressures from within and without we are called to look to God, walk according to His power in us by His Spirit and submit to His Son as our one and only Lord. In this we are also going to have to be diligent in our dealings with others both for the building up of the body and the demonstration that this is to the world which is watching.

Paul said that there is one Lord who is Jesus Christ. There is also only one faith, which while it includes the message of salvation by faith it is also more comprehensive to include the teaching of God’s Word and even more specifically the body of doctrine that we find revealed in the New Testament. In Jude 3 we read of this teaching that had been handed down as “the faith.” “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.” (Jude 3, NASB95) This was not an evolving faith or one that was subject to addition or change, but one that was once for all handed down. Jude wrote this in the face of those who were coming along later seeking to distort the apostles teaching as we read in verse 4, “For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” (Jude 4, NASB95)

And there is one baptism. While there is some difference in how this verse is understood, there is unanimity that we are only identified in Christ through His death, burial and resurrection. It is reasonably held that this passage speaks specifically of water baptism since the presence of the Spirit is already mentioned a verse earlier and it is in accord with the observance of the early church where water baptism and the receipt of the Holy Spirit went hand in hand with salvation. As people were saved they were baptized and they received the Holy Spirit. All of these happened right then and there. Even on that first day when over three thousand souls were saved we read, “Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:37–41, NASB95) Here Peter was obeying Christ’s command of Matthew 28:19 where we read, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19–20, NASB95) Even in this commission we see one Lord, one faith (teaching), and one baptism.

But not being specific it is also possible that Paul was referring back to the presence of the Spirit in verse 4 and the Lord’s teaching that while John baptized with water there was a time coming when believers would be baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5). This of course happened just as Jesus said on Pentecost and it has been the perpetual state of all who have come to salvation since. At the time we trust Christ for salvation our entire identity changes. Paul wrote in Romans 6:3-4 of this new identification, “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:3–4, NASB95) And more than that we are also baptized into one body with all other believers as we read in 1 Corinthians, “For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:12–13, NASB95)

Whether this baptism be one, the other, or both each of these truths are taught in Scripture and they all point to the incredible work that God has done in us through His Son. Truly the oneness we have is because we have our one Lord Jesus Christ, we have the solitary and complete teaching of Scripture which was laid down unchangeably for us, and we share in the reality that we are all identified in one body with His death, burial, and resurrection.

One Body and One Spirit Called in One Hope (Ephesians 4:4)

“(4) There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; (5) one Lord, one faith, one baptism, (6) one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4–6, NASB95)

In face of driving home the importance of how we are to be one with one another in the Spirit in the bond of peace, Paul immediately follows it with the oneness of our God. We do not serve a different God. There are not a multiplicity of Spirits, nor is the Spirit duplicitous in function. We are one body—the church. There may be a lot of church buildings and countless ways of operating within those buildings, but there is only one church which is the body of Christ. Even then there was not a separate body for Jewish believers and for Gentile ones. There was and is only one. This was a big issue for believers at that time as both groups were coming to Christ and not certain how to respond to each other. People from all kinds of backgrounds were being saved and being knit together into this one body, and Paul declared loud and clear that there is only one body.

We can learn a lot from that today as we deal with believers who not only have their own preferences for worship style and sermon length, but who also disagree on various peripheral doctrinal positions yet agree on the essentials of the gospel. There are some who disagree on whether or not the sign gifts are in continuance today, yet they fully agree that they are saved by faith in Christ alone and hold firmly with the rest in the majority of Scripture. There are some who vary in just how the end will end and what the order of things will be, yet again they agree that Jesus Christ is the Son of God sent by the Father through whom alone man can be saved. There are even some who disagree as to whether we should view the times of Scripture as covenantal or dispensational and when those various dispensations might begin or end. Yet they agree that Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures.

All of these are things in which we are called to diligently study the word of God and seek to grow in our knowledge and understanding of it so that we might both rightfully handle it ourselves and help others to do likewise. While we may vary in our understanding where God’s work may not be specifically clear we are never to allow these differences to minimize our view of the trustworthiness of any portion of Scripture. Rather, we are to respond by continuing to seek God’s proper understanding as we diligently study His word, realizing that we all have a lot of learning and growing to do. And in the face of this reality we are given continual cause to be even more humble, gentle, patient, and tolerant of one another giving room where there appears to be room in Scripture and striving for agreement where there does not.

There is one body and we are called to preserve the unity of that body. But we are not called to do so at the expense of God’s truth on one side or even to force conformity of His truth in our own strength on the other side. We are one body in Christ and there is one Spirit in us. What an incredible relationship this is that we share with one another. It doesn’t matter if we have ever met before or about our own cultural background, when we come together we share a oneness that is truly found in our being united in Christ. We can encourage each other, pray for each other, worship with each other, and serve side by side with each other. We can mourn with each other and we can hope with each other. We are truly all members of one body of which Jesus Christ is the head and the Spirit moves through each of us.

Christians truly have the same hope knowing that we were each called by God into the same salvation in Jesus Christ, indwelt by the same Spirit, and given the same assurance of eternal life. 

Walking as One (Ephesians 4:2-3)

“with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:2–3, NASB95)

The human thing frequently is to get irritated when people rub us the wrong way. After all isn’t it our passion that ignites a flame in our hearts? But at the same time that passion may easily become friction for someone else, and we all know that with friction comes heat and that enough heat leads to combustion. James wrote a lot about this in his brief but packed letter. In James 3:5 he wrote, “See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!” (James 3:5, NASB95) But this is only the second half of the verse. The first half reads, “So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.” Earlier in chapter 1 he wrote, “… But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;” (James 1:19, NASB95) He sets up for us a contrast between the one who acts upon his own impulses and the one who waits, and he says to us that the one who waits also calms.

We all know friction and conflict. We all know how damaging it can be and how long it can linger. We know that friendships, marriages, and families and churches are torn apart over it. It is a destructive force, and frequently it is evidenced through the things that come out of our mouths. Continuing in James 3:8-10 we read, “But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.” (James 3:8–10, NASB95)

But the tongue is not the real source of the problem. It is merely an obvious path for the problem to surface. Reading on in James we find, “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.” (James 3:13–14, NASB95) … “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?” (James 4:1, NASB95) James points to the root of the problem and that is our own desires. And when we hold our desires above those of others conflict will surely come.

We have been called into one body by God and by the power of the Spirit we are knit together. Paul urges us to consider this oneness and be diligent to preserve it. The way we are to do this is by humbly looking to others as we remember the example of Christ for us (Philippians 2:5-8). Jesus, being fully God humbled Himself by taking on the form of a bond-servant in the likeness of man to give Himself as a sacrifice for us so that we might receive forgiveness of our sins and be granted eternal life all according to the will of God the Father. He endured setting aside the glory of God for a season to endure humanity, ridicule, rejection, beatings, and death for us. Why? Because God loves us that much (John 3:16).

And it is this love that we in turn show to one another which declares to the world that God is real (John 13:35) as we fulfill the this commandment given to us by Christ (John 13:34). “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34–35, NASB95)

So, how do we practically love one another? This is where the words of Ephesians 4:2 and 3 come into focus. First, we are to demonstrate humility in our lives. Humility is a compound word in this passage. It combines ‘tapeinos’, meaning lowly or of low estate or not rising far from the ground with ‘phren’, meaning understanding or perceiving or judging such that you reign it in. Putting these two Greek roots together we get the understanding of actively reigning in and holding to an attitude of low position. It was with this attitude that the Son of God did not regard equality with God something to be strongly held on to. It did not mean that He was any less, but that He did not allow His position to get in the way of what was important which was doing the will of the Father. He demonstrated humility for us and we are called to be humble ourselves always remembering that we were not saved based upon any merit of our own, but because of the Father’s great love for us as demonstrated through the humility of His Son.

We also read that we are not only to be gentle, but to have an attitude of gentleness. Our gentle actions are to flow from a gentle heart. This speaks of a person with a mild disposition or one who is not prone to quarrel or easily anger. Again I think of the example of our Lord who even in the face of being reviled and having abuse piled upon Him did not return the same in kind (1 Peter 2:23). But rather through His actions we were drawn unto Him. When the world hated Him, He loved us. “and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:24–25, NASB95) In Galatians 5:23 we read that gentleness is among the things listed as fruit of the work of God’s Spirit in us. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23, NASB95) Just a couple of verses later in chapter 6 we go on to read, “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1, NASB95) Gentle actions flow from a gentle heart. We are to demonstrate the work of God’s Spirit in us by treating others with the gentleness which we have learned from God.

We go on to read in Ephesians 4:2 that we are to “with patience” show “tolerance” or be “longsuffering” toward. Each of these words grasps some element of the meaning and all point to the fact that things won’t always go smoothly. I know this is not a news flash for us. We’ve all figured it out by now. Even the most loving of people are going to have those moments when they have to make a choice about how they are going to respond to a wrong suffered or a desire squelched. Tolerance is a much misused word in our society where it has come to incorporate not only putting up with something not going or being as we desire, but also embracing it. The problem here is that it is used to include even those things which fly in the face of what God’s word declares to be right and true, and I think for that reason many people are steering away from the word. But the truth is that even within the framework of people who are seeking after God, hiding His word daily in their hearts, and trusting Him to direct their steps there are going to be missteps and stumbling. There are going to be times when we sin or hurt each other and need to deal with it. There are going to be areas of disagreement within the church about music and colors of carpet. There are varying views on how a ministry should be run, and there are even varying understandings of what God intends in portions of His Word. All of these things can be used as fuel for division, but Paul encourages us to patiently stand firm with each other as we walk right before God and one another in the power of the Spirit allowing Him to sort these things out. It is in this that patience shows itself to be powerful, knowing that not everything is resolved on the spot. It is in this that longsuffering proves unifying as we stand with each other as we endure that which is not right with the hope that it turns out right before God. And it is here that we tolerate one another knowing that what God began in each of us He will indeed complete as we build up and encourage one another in Him and entrust ourselves to the work of His Spirit.

We are told to love one another. All of the things above and so much more is tangible evidence of our love. People who love each other demonstrate that love in how they are toward one another. And our love is to be more than an outward act, but an outflowing of God’s working in us. When we sense ill feelings rising up or are tempted to respond harshly things it is a good sign that maybe it is time to stop and look to God first. Going back to James 1:19 where we read that everyone is to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, I am reminded of the greater context of James chapter 1 which is really looking to God. When these things pop up and I am tempted to respond inappropriately according to whom I am in Christ the best thing to do is to first stop and look to God, listening to Him, and seeking His way of moving forward. Then in accord with the things He has shown me in His Word and spoken to my heart I can then respond in the Spirit led way knowing that first it reins in my own temper and secondly also leads to peace with others thus preserving the unity of the Spirit in which we are knit together in the bond of peace.