One

Thursday - March 3rd

Scripture to Read Today: Ephesians 4:1-10

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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 4:4-6

Calvary's founding pastor, Larry Dewitt, regularly reminded the congregation over the years that when Jesus returns, he will return for one bride, not many. Jesus will return for every follower of Christ, not just the Baptists, the Presbyterians, the Methodists, etc. Every person who knows Jesus as Savior will one day be with Jesus forever. All Christians, not just some, make up what the New Testament calls the Bride of Christ.

That bride is one bride, not many brides. We are ultimately one church, not many churches. We may have many local expressions of that one church, but we are still one church.

The Apostle Paul emphasized our unity in the Book of Ephesians. The unique and precious unity of the Body and Bride of Christ emerges as one of the book's central themes. Paul communicates our unity together clearly in Ephesians 4:4-6. "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."

Notice the extensive use of the word "one." In our relationship to Christ, there is only one body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, God, Who is Father of all. The Apostle wants us to know that we are one from every angle. It would be tough to look at these three verses in Ephesians four and conclude that we are not united as one in Christ.

Even when we see things differently or disagree, we are still one in Christ. That makes it hard to live out the unity God calls us to have. It especially makes it hard when our culture has splintered into various polarized political positions. The new mantra of our culture that we can all identify as anything we want also runs counter to the importance of our oneness in Christ.

Today, take the time to pray for two or three Christians with whom you find it easy to consider yourself one. Then, take the time to pray for two or three Christians with whom you have struggled in recent months or years. Maybe you can only see the differences and disagreements and struggle to know how you are one with them. Pray God's very best for them. Pray that they will sense they are a part of the one bride of Christ. Let God shape your heart's posture toward others within His one church.

Even when we are divided and disagree, all of us who are followers of Christ are one in Him - no matter what!