“….eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace…..”
Ephesians 4:3
Helps Word Study on bond~ 4886 sýndesmos (from 4862/sýn, "closely identity with" and 1210/déō, "bind") – properly, a bond (close union); a close (inner) identity which produces harmony between members joined closely together (WP).
It’s interesting to note that Paul opens the majority of his letters with the blessing of ‘grace and peace’ and the letter to Ephesians is no exception. The reality that our lives are to be full of grace and peace is inescapable and they are abundantly supplied to the believer. Revelation chapter one tells us grace and peace are from the seven spirits before the throne and the Father and his son Jesus Christ.
Paul’s exhortation reminds us there is unparrelled unity between the Godhead and we have been invited to share in this unity of oneness with them. Mark’s gospel reminds us that the Lord our God is one. There is no division betwen the will and working of God the Father, Jesus the word and His Spirit. ‘Hear O Israel the Lord your God is one’ . Jesus prays for us to be found in this oneness ~
‘I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one…’
Paul exhorts us to be eager to maintain this unity through the bond of peace.
Helps Word Study on eager: 4704 spoudázō – properly, be swift (go fast, speedy); (figuratively) move speedily, showing full diligence (fully applying oneself); "do your best" (concentrate on, give priority to).
Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Romans 12:18
Blessed are the peace ”makers” for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9
So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Romans 14:19
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14
Once again, we are confronted with the things we ‘know’ from the word and the reality of walking and living it out. From Pauls letter we learn that he first identifies himself in his affliction. ‘I am a prisoner’. In prison because of the hatred and jealousy of others, yet his appeal is to the character of the follower of Christ to hold humility, meekness, and patience bearing with one another in love.
Helps Word Study: ’Bearing up’: 430 anéxomai(from 303/aná, "up/completing a process" and 2192/éxō, "to have") – properly, "still bearing up," even after going through the needed sequence (course of action); to forbear;
Without this working deep in our hearts and mind we can never maintain the unity of the Spirit because we are ourselves are not unified with the Spirit and where there is no unity of the Spirit there can be no peace.
First John is a manual on relationships, ours with the Father and with others and all of them found rooted in love. John wrote,
If anyone says, I love God and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not see. And this commandment we have from him, whoever loves God must also love his brother.
1 John 4:20-21
However I might try to sidestep this with ‘I don’t hate them, I just don’t like them’ we miss the point, which is must love them and must love demands 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 ~
Love is patient and kind, love does not envy or boast, it is not arrogant or rude, It does not insiist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful, it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
This measuring stick is to be the standard we judge our hearts from. What is my heart holding for another? Am I bearing with another? Am I eager to maintain this unity?
We love even as we have been loved.
We are eager to maintain the unity the Spirit produces.
Our dependency upon our union with Him enables our union with each other.
It is the Spirit that the pours forth this grace that enables. It is the Spirit that pours forth the love of God into us. It is the Spirit that directs us into right ways. Of course it is our choice to yield to all that He does.
How pleasant it is for the brethren to dwell together in unity. I suggest there is no place of peace in our lives until we first unify with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and then, and only then, will we find unity that is bond in peace.
On this pentecost Sunday ~ may the presence and working of His Holy Spirit bring a renewal of relationships and union in His church so that all men will know we are His disciples by the love we hold for one another.