Ephesians 4:3

New International Version

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

For Meditation

Life is a gift from God, meant to be lived together in community. Our relational adventure should foster unity, but selfishness has turned it into a ‘me’ and ‘I’ journey. Yet, Christ Jesus reconciles us and places us into His body—the Church—where He restores unity. In the church, no one stands alone. Why then can’t we live unified as one body? Why do divisions persist?

As we transition from childhood to adulthood, we see ourselves uniquely and desire independence. After childhood, that sense of liberty grows, especially in our teenage years when fantasies flourish and feelings of adult freedom intensify. As young adults, we long to marry, leave the family home, and be independent of Mom and Dad.

As we enter adulthood, we work hard, raise a family, and save for the future. We realize that life is not as easy as we imagined. By this stage, we may have made money, gained wealth, achieved a lot, and experienced power. The illusion is that we don’t need anyone. We can demand and do anything we want, so why do we need neighbors? In this age of technology, gadgets can do anything for us, so who says we need each other? This sense of self-sufficiency and digital convenience can easily spill over into church life today as well. 

As more people turn to online services or church engagement solely through social media, they often miss out on the crucial in-person fellowship and support that fosters unity. In our increasingly independent and technology-driven world, it’s easy to overlook that genuine spiritual community thrives on our physical presence, openness, and active participation, rather than mere convenience.

Eventually, the golden years arrive. Life ebbs away, and the body begins to wobble and feel less competent. Aches and pains consume our bodies, and the doctor’s office becomes our most treasured space. Regrets over past mistakes and unattained goals creep up on us and, with uncanny force, take over our minds. More regrettably, we realize our inability to change the past, despite our accomplishments, wealth, and power. Rather, death becomes a reality, and the obituary page takes precedence over the business page for us. We count the number of our dead compatriots at their funerals, and then, the strange feeling of the end coming our way with inevitable reality and speed dawns on us.

What happened to us? What happened to our dreams? Where did our strength go? How come we can’t do what we did before? Why are we so helpless that others must help us with simple things we did easily as kids? Did we notice their subtle insults and complaints? How can our own children be so selfish and cruel? If we could take our wealth with us after death, we surely would, keeping it from those children. But that’s another hard truth we face. “We brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out of it” (1 Timothy 6:7).

So, why didn’t we take time to build genuine friendships? Why didn’t we foster community through love, fellowship, and helping others? Why didn’t we prioritize time with God—meditating on His word, obeying Him, setting our hearts on eternal things, and working together for peace in the body? And why did selfishness overshadow unity?

The good news is that it’s not too late. Because you’re reading this, you have time for unity. With love, humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance, and peace (Ephesians 4:2-3), you can help build a united church. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live as one.

Choose unity and enjoy community while you live. The grace of God be upon you!  

Pray with Me

Lord, thank you for your warmth that we share with one another in Christ Jesus, our Savior and King Eternal. May your Spirit enable us to love as you love and bond us together after the unity within the Godhead. It is in the name of Jesus that I have prayed, amen.

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