Building His Church #3

Ephesians 4:1  I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says,
“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”

As we have seen, Christ has set out to build His Church in between His first and second advent.  He invites us to be a part of that as His followers.  Through His Holy Spirit He gifts each and every one of us with spiritual abilities to contribute to His plan.  The Holy Spirit binds us together in unity.  Sometimes, we can make the whole process less effective.  When we lack humility and thing we are more important than others; when we get gruff with our words or attitudes and discourage brothers and sisters in Christ; or when we are impatient with one another's progress or part in the plan and create friction and ill-will, we detract and distract from the building project Christ has undertaken.  Therefore, Paul calls on us to live true to our calling and to allow the Holy Spirit to do what He is in us to do: be unified in heart and purpose.  May we be "eager" to maintain that unity.