September 2, 2010
Ephesians 4:3
being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Wood glue amazes me. I have been working with wood in multiple applications for many years. It was a hobby that turned into a profession and is now a hobby again. Through that time of building everything from furniture to cabinetry I have learned a great appreciation for the power of glue to create a lasting bond between two pieces of wood. I have glued two boards together under pressure and then attempted to break the two pieces apart once the glue was set. What happens is that the wood will split while the glue joint remains intact. Try it some time when you get bored and you’re tired of updating your Facebook page.
The glue is very diligent in its preservation of the unity of the wood. The bonding power of the glue is greater than that which holds the wood fibers together. There is an external force more powerful than what is existing which will keep the pieces together even under great stress. A devastating blow does not damage the joint because of its strength gained under great pressure. In the passage above, Paul is referring to the bond that holds the church together. We are drawn together because of our faith in Jesus and our desire to follow him. Through that faith we receive the presence of the Holy Spirit that lives in us and holds us accountable to the calling of Christ on our lives. But, we must be diligent.
We have all heard of churches that split over important issues like what color the new carpet in the sanctuary should be, or what color the choir robes should be. Certainly these are biblical, foundational issues that are worth fighting over, right? Wrong. But, unfortunately the heritage of the Protestant churches in America is that of dissention and division. This reality has driven many people away from church involvement. Many believers in Jesus are choosing to practice their faith apart from the local church body in order to avoid the issues of conflict that have damaged the witness of the Church. We must be diligent.
We have a great sense of unity at Quest Fellowship. Many of you have come recently because of your attraction to the vision that God has given us for the practice of the Church in our culture. Who we are trying to become resonates with what you know about God through Jesus Christ. Sunday mornings are a great time of fellowship and connecting with God’s Spirit through worship and discipleship. I feel a true sense of unity in the Spirit right now at Quest. But, we must be diligent.
Satan works very hard, and is quite skilled, at breaking apart unity in the body of Christ. Paul spent a lot of energy in his letters encouraging unity in those individual congregations. He understood the challenges when sinful people try to work together. That is why we need to always be mindful of preserving that sense of unity. It comes when we are able to disagree in peaceful ways. Unity flourishes when we are always working to humble ourselves in relationship with each other. Unity gains strength when everyone is committed to fulfilling our Purpose and Mission, instead of pushing their own personal agendas. I am indeed thankful for the sense of togetherness that is being fostered among the people of Quest Fellowship. I encourage you to live today in diligence. Live today unified by God’s Spirit.
--Paul Roberts
September 2, 2010
Ephesians 4:3
being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Wood glue amazes me. I have been working with wood in multiple applications for many years. It was a hobby that turned into a profession and is now a hobby again. Through that time of building everything from furniture to cabinetry I have learned a great appreciation for the power of glue to create a lasting bond between two pieces of wood. I have glued two boards together under pressure and then attempted to break the two pieces apart once the glue was set. What happens is that the wood will split while the glue joint remains intact. Try it some time when you get bored and you’re tired of updating your Facebook page.
The glue is very diligent in its preservation of the unity of the wood. The bonding power of the glue is greater than that which holds the wood fibers together. There is an external force more powerful than what is existing which will keep the pieces together even under great stress. A devastating blow does not damage the joint because of its strength gained under great pressure. In the passage above, Paul is referring to the bond that holds the church together. We are drawn together because of our faith in Jesus and our desire to follow him. Through that faith we receive the presence of the Holy Spirit that lives in us and holds us accountable to the calling of Christ on our lives. But, we must be diligent.
We have all heard of churches that split over important issues like what color the new carpet in the sanctuary should be, or what color the choir robes should be. Certainly these are biblical, foundational issues that are worth fighting over, right? Wrong. But, unfortunately the heritage of the Protestant churches in America is that of dissention and division. This reality has driven many people away from church involvement. Many believers in Jesus are choosing to practice their faith apart from the local church body in order to avoid the issues of conflict that have damaged the witness of the Church. We must be diligent.
We have a great sense of unity at Quest Fellowship. Many of you have come recently because of your attraction to the vision that God has given us for the practice of the Church in our culture. Who we are trying to become resonates with what you know about God through Jesus Christ. Sunday mornings are a great time of fellowship and connecting with God’s Spirit through worship and discipleship. I feel a true sense of unity in the Spirit right now at Quest. But, we must be diligent.
Satan works very hard, and is quite skilled, at breaking apart unity in the body of Christ. Paul spent a lot of energy in his letters encouraging unity in those individual congregations. He understood the challenges when sinful people try to work together. That is why we need to always be mindful of preserving that sense of unity. It comes when we are able to disagree in peaceful ways. Unity flourishes when we are always working to humble ourselves in relationship with each other. Unity gains strength when everyone is committed to fulfilling our Purpose and Mission, instead of pushing their own personal agendas. I am indeed thankful for the sense of togetherness that is being fostered among the people of Quest Fellowship. I encourage you to live today in diligence. Live today unified by God’s Spirit.
--Paul Roberts