Unity in the Spirit
Day 627, Thursday, April 30
Ephesians 3:14 – 4:16
In today’s reading Paul goes beyond the unity between Jews and gentiles an gets to a broader love that binds all people. He prays, “Yes, may you come to know his love—although it can never be fully known—and so completely filled with the very nature of God.”
He challenges the church at Ephesus to live a life that measures up to the standard God set when he called them. “Be always humble, gentle, and patient. Show your love by being tolerant with one another. Do your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit gives by means of the peace that binds you together.”
Paul repeats the teaching that we saw in 1 Corinthians that Christ gave different gifts to different people in order to build up his body. “And so we shall come together to that oneness in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God; we shall become mature people, reaching to the very height of Christ’s full stature. Then we shall no longer be children, carried by the waves and blown about by every shifting wind of the teaching of deceitful people, who lead others into error by the tricks they invent.”

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Thursday meditation

Psalms 119:9-16
How can young people keep their lives pure? By obeying your commands. With all my heart I try to serve you; keep me from disobeying your commandments. I keep your law in my heart, so that I will not sin against you. I praise you, O Lord; teach me your ways. I will repeat aloud all the laws you have given. I delight in following your commands more than in having great wealth. I study your instructions; I examine your teachings. I take pleasure in your laws; your commands I will not forget.

Prayer focus
May I come to know your live and so be completely filled with the very nature of God.