ONE
Ephesians 4:4… For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
One… It’s an adjective with nine specific definitions. It’s a noun with six specific definitions. It’s a pronoun with eight specific definitions. But I think the definition that Paul, the writer of the letter to the church that met in the city of Ephesus, wanted to use here is, “existing, acting, or considered as a single unit, entity, or individual; of the same or having a single kind, nature, or condition”
Paul is talking to the group of people in the ancient city of Ephesus who claimed to follow Jesus and thus claimed the name, “church” or “body of Christ”. He is reminding them that they are part of something bigger, something spiritual, something more than self; he is suggesting that one Spirit rules and reigns in their hearts. He is pleading with them in other parts of the letter to have a single focus on living out their calling and mission together!
He continues (v. 5-7)… “There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all. However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.”
Paul says that while our mission is to live as one, serving the one Lord with a faith that unites us all, we are to utilize our different gifts to serve each other and others that we call neighbor.
Our differences do not take us in different directions as the “body of Christ”. Our differences are given to us by God as gifts to be used to serve, build up, encourage and strengthen the “body of Christ” and our communities and our neighbors.
Satan seeks to divide us and thus disrupt the mission of the church. Satan works to render the “church” useless and ineffective by dividing our hearts and our vision.
It’s possible to be a group of people that are “one”… one in spirit, one in vision and moving in one direction; a force unstoppable and immovable when the Holy Spirit is leading and directing our hearts and minds.
It’s possible in these chaotic and uncertain times to be that unified force which jumps in to help and save the day for those who are drowning in worry, fear, doubt and mistrust.
It’s possible to be “one”, but you will have to humbly surrender your will and your life to Jesus first. And then, you will have to live out the second law of Christ which states to “love your neighbor as yourself”… meaning? You will have to serve others and do for others even when you don’t want to comply or concede. You will have to lay down your selfish desires and wants and allow someone else to “win” or get their own way!
It’s possible to be the “church” Jesus intended for us to be, but it will cost us something in return, and it will look like we are losing the fight, and it will look like you are giving up more than you are gaining. But, you and I shouldn’t trust what our eyes and our minds think we are seeing, feeling and experiencing; we are easily deceived and fooled by the things of this world.
We should put our hope and trust in Jesus… bread for life; light for the journey; the way, the truth and the life we are looking for and craving.
ONE… "one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all" It’s possible! What are you willing to give up? What are you willing to commit to?