Silence: Find a quiet place, remove potential distractions, clear your mind of other thoughts, and ask God to speak to you as you read and contemplate this passage:
Reflective Reading: Read Ephesians 4:1-6 thoughtfully:
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Meditation: Reflect on this outline of unity that Paul shares with the church at Ephesus. What is God speaking to you through this exchange? What is the Paul’s challenge to the Ephesians?
Oration: From your reading and prayer, verbalize or write in the space below your response to what God is speaking to you from this passage:
Contemplation: Over the next day, contemplate this passage and what God is saying to you. Think on these topics:
- Do you believe that you were called to attend First Baptist, or are you here by mere chance? Do you believe that you were called to be a Christian? If you answered yes to these questions, how do you react to Paul’s urge to ‘live a life worthy of the calling you have received’?
- One is used eight times in this passage. How would you rate First Baptist in our ‘oneness’?
- Have you ever participated in (or witnessed) a game of tug-of-war? What happens if one team member pulls in a different direction – even if just a little off-line? How does a lack of unity affect our work here at First Baptist?
- What actions might this passage be directing you to begin?
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