One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism

Ephesians 4:1-6(NIV)

I, Paul, as a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Devotion:

Ephesians 4:1-6 calls believers to unity and a life that honors God’s calling. Paul, writing from prison, urges us to live "worthy of the calling you have received." This powerful charge isn’t about earning our place in God’s family—instead, it’s about responding in gratitude to the grace we’ve already received. Paul lists practical ways to demonstrate this: humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another in love. These are not qualities we develop in isolation; they’re forged in the context of community, as we interact with people who, like us, are imperfect and in need of grace.

Unity is at the heart of this passage. Paul writes, "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." This unity is not something we create ourselves; it is the Spirit’s work. Our role is to guard it and nurture it. Division threatens the body of Christ, but the call here isn’t to uniformity—where everyone is the same—but to unity, where our differences are embraced within the larger framework of one body and one Spirit. We are reminded that our faith, hope, and baptism are shared, and that we are under the care of one God and Father, who is over all, through all, and in all.

This kind of unity requires effort. It means choosing to be patient when someone disappoints us, to forgive as God has forgiven us, and to seek peace when conflict arises. It means setting aside pride and self-interest for the sake of the community. When we live this way, we reflect God’s character to the world and demonstrate the reality of the gospel. In a culture often marked by division and competition, the church’s unity is a powerful witness. Today, let us ask God for the strength to walk worthy of our calling, to love one another deeply, and to be peacemakers in the family of faith. May our unity point others to the One who is over all and through all and in all.

Prayer:

            Gracious God, we seek to live lives united with other believers. So often, we fail to be as gracious as you. Forgive us for this fault, and may we learn to be examples of Christlike love. May we make every effort to maintain the unity of the body which Jesus prayed for us on the night of His betrayal. Let us be fountains of love and kindness to all our neighbors, but especially to members of the family of faith. Amen.