Today's Verse: Ephesians 4:2-3

Friday, April 2, 2004

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.
— Ephesians 4:2-3
Now you can listen to Today's Verse on iTunes, Spotify, Echo devices, and more!

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Effort, sweat, and dedication seem to have become the profanity of Western Christianity. To our age of grace-abusers and grace-cheapeners who don't see acts of obedient faith as necessary to authentic discipleship, the Holy Spirit reaches out with his truth. The Spirit reminds us that relationships on earth, even those in Jesus' family, require patient effort, gritty love, personal sacrifice, gracious forgiveness, and rigorous determination. If we read Jesus' prayer for unity in John 17:20-21, how could we not make every effort to keep his Body unified and be loving and patient with each other? Since Jesus purchased our salvation with his sweat, grace, and blood, how can we balk when our passionate efforts are required to preserve the unity and peace of Jesus' family?

My Prayer...

Dear Heavenly Father, forgive my impatience with others and my lack of forgiveness for them. Holy Spirit, change my heart to do better in these things. Stir your Spirit within me to curb my tongue, soften my heart, and extend more effort to others who need your blessing. Please, dear Father, use me to be a peacemaker in your Kingdom. I ask this, O Lord, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

20 Related Resources by Heartlight

Ephesians 4:2
Devo: Daily Wisdom
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."
Ephesians 4:2
Devo: Today's Verse
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."
Ephesians 4:3
Devo: Daily Wisdom
"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."
United in the Spirit
Devo: God's Holy Fire
"Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace."
See All 20 Related Resources about Ephesians 4:2-3

Illustration

Illustration of Ephesians 4:2-3 — 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.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Friday, April 2, 2004

God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'Transfigured to Be Like the Messiah'
"Whenever, though, [the Israelites] turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are — face to face! They suddenly recognize that..."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Morning Thought: Psalms 120:5
"As a Christian you have to live in the midst of an ungodly world, and it is of little use for you to cry "Woe is me." Jesus did not pray that you..."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'Like a Great Warrior' (Je. 20:11-12)
"The Lord stands beside me like a great warrior. Before him my persecutors will stumble. They cannot defeat me. They will fail and be thoroughly..."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Lovingly Paid'
"Dear Beloved, Today's verses are full of deeply significant words, but they are not hard to understand. Read them and let them fall into your..."

About This Devotional

Today's Verse is a free daily devotional that includes a Bible verse, thought and prayer.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

More Today's Verse