Friends in Christ Weekly Message
August 2, 2003

     In light of all this, here's what I want you to do. While I'm locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk - better yet, run! - on the road God called you to travel. I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline - not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.
     You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.
     But that doesn't mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift.
Ephesians 4:1-7 (Message*)

Paul has some good advice for the church here. First he calls on believers to be faithful to their call. Stay on the right path. Don't go off on other paths, and don't cease doing the Lord's work. We are to do this steadily, with humility and discipline.

As believers, we are to pour ourselves out in love for one another. We are to be quick to mend fences that arise among us. We are to be fully united as the body of Christ. Our unity is to permeate everything we are and think and do.

Our unity does not mean we all look and speak and act the same. Christ has given us each our own gift to guide our work of faith. Unity will be shown as these gifts complement each other.

This advice has not lost its wisdom over the centuries. Dear friends, may we each keep steady in the faith. May we be united in faith and love as the body of Christ here on Earth. May we each live up to our own God-given gifts.

Bill Samuel

* The Message version ©2002 by Eugene H. Peterson.

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