Phil Rowlands

Hello, my friends!

Have you ever paused to marvel at the intricate design of your own body? From the tiniest cell to the complex network of organs, everything works together in perfect harmony. This incredible unity in diversity is not just a biological wonder but a powerful metaphor for something even more extraordinary – the Body of Christ. Today, let's investigate this profound truth and explore how it applies to our lives as believers.

Friends, the Apostle Paul, writing from his prison cell, passionately urges us in Ephesians 4:1 to “walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.” This isn't just a casual suggestion but a heartfelt plea for us to live out the magnificent reality of our identity in Christ. But what does it mean to “walk worthy”?

The word “worthy” here carries a dual meaning that's rich with significance. First, it conveys the sense of something appropriate or becoming, like wearing the perfect outfit for a special occasion. Imagine showing up to a formal gala in your pyjamas – it would be completely out of place, right? In the same way, our behaviour should be fitting for those who have been called by Christ.

But it goes even deeper than that. The second meaning of “worthy” here is about giving equal weight to both our beliefs and our actions. Picture a perfectly balanced scale, with doctrine on one side and daily living on the other. That's the kind of harmony Paul is calling us to embody. It's not enough to just know the truth; we must live it out in every aspect of our lives.

Now, here's where it gets really exciting. Paul reminds us of seven spiritual truths that form the bedrock of our unity in Christ: One Body, One Spirit, One Hope, One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, and One God and Father of all. Let's unpack these a bit, shall we?

When Paul speaks of “one body,” he's referring to the Church as a whole. Just as your physical body is a united organism, not a collection of disconnected parts, so too is the Church one unified entity in Christ. We're not talking about denominations or individual congregations here, but the universal body of believers across time and space. This truth should radically reshape how we view our relationships with other believers, regardless of their background or tradition.

The “one Spirit” is, of course, the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer. Just as your human spirit animates your entire body, the Holy Spirit gives life to the entire Church. This shared spiritual reality binds us together in a way that transcends our physical differences. It's the Spirit that empowers us, guides us, and unites us in our diversity.

Our “one hope” refers to our shared destiny in Christ. No matter our background or current circumstances, we're all looking forward to the same glorious future with our Lord. This common hope should inspire us to encourage one another and spur each other on towards that day. When we keep our eyes fixed on this eternal perspective, it helps us navigate the temporary challenges and disagreements we might face in the here and now.

The “one Lord” is Jesus Christ Himself. Christianity isn't about a set of rules or a philosophy – it's about a Person. When we make Jesus the centre of our faith and practice, division fades away in the light of His glory. It's when we lose sight of Christ and focus on secondary issues that disunity creeps in. Let's always keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

Our “one faith” isn't just about shared beliefs, but about the act of trusting in Christ for our salvation. Whether you're a new believer or a seasoned saint, the same faith that justifies one justifies all. There's no hierarchy here – we all stand on level ground at the foot of the cross. This truth should humble us and remind us that we're all equally dependent on God's grace.

The “one baptism” Paul mentions likely refers to our spiritual baptism into Christ at the moment of salvation. As he writes in 1 Corinthians 12:13, “For by one Spirit we were all baptised into one body.” This spiritual reality is what truly unites us, beyond any external ritual or ceremony. It's a powerful reminder that our unity is not based on our own efforts or traditions but on the work of Christ in us.

Finally, we have “one God and Father of all.” This reminds us of our shared spiritual lineage. In Christ, we've all been adopted into God's family. We're not just united as an organisation or a movement but as a family with one Father. This truth should transform how we treat one another – not as strangers or competitors, but as beloved brothers and sisters.

Friends, these aren't just nice-sounding words. They're powerful realities that should shape every aspect of our lives as believers. We're not talking about manufacturing unity – it's already a fact! Just as your physical body doesn't try to create unity among its parts, we don't need to produce unity in the Church. It's already there, established by Christ Himself.

But here's the beautiful paradox – our unity doesn't mean uniformity. Paul goes on to say in Ephesians 4:7, “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.” We're diverse, but not divided. Each of us has a unique role to play, a specific gift to contribute to the body.

Think about it this way: your eye, hand, and foot all have different functions, but they work together for the good of the whole body. You wouldn't want your whole body to be an eye, would you? In the same way, our individual gifts and callings are meant to complement each other, not compete with each other. This diversity is not a mistake or a problem to be solved – it's part of God's beautiful design for His Church.

This truth should radically change how we view ourselves and others in the Church. Are we embracing our God-given uniqueness while also recognising our interconnectedness? Are we using our gifts to build up the body, or are we holding back out of fear or pride? These are important questions we need to ask ourselves regularly.

The Psalmist beautifully captures this unity in diversity: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1). This unity is compared to precious oil flowing from the head of the high priest down to the edges of his garments – a picture of Christ's anointing flowing through every part of His body, the Church. It's a powerful image of how our unity in Christ should permeate every aspect of our life together.

Let's not forget the ultimate purpose of this unity. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4:10 that Christ “ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.” Our unity in diversity is meant to display the fullness of Christ to a watching world. When we function together as one body, each part doing its unique work, we become a living testament to the power and wisdom of God.

Now, you might be wondering, “How do I practically live this out?” Great question! Let's explore some practical ways to embrace this unity in diversity.

First, we need to embrace our uniqueness. This means recognising that God has gifted you in specific ways for the benefit of the body. Don't try to be someone else – be the best version of who God created you to be. Your unique perspective, experiences, and gifts are valuable contributions to the body of Christ. Embrace them with confidence and humility.

At the same time, we must learn to value others' gifts. Just as you wouldn't want your whole body to be an eye, appreciate the diverse gifts in the body of Christ. Celebrate the ways others contribute, even when their gifts are different from yours. This might mean stepping back sometimes to allow others to use their gifts, or actively encouraging someone to step into their calling.

It's crucial to understand that seeking unity doesn't mean striving for uniformity. Unity doesn't mean we all have to think, act, or worship in exactly the same way. It means we're united in our core beliefs and our love for Christ and each other. We can disagree on secondary issues while still maintaining our essential unity in Christ.

An important aspect of living out this truth is using your gifts to serve. Don't sit on the sidelines. Find ways to actively contribute to the body of Christ using your unique gifts and abilities. This might be in your local church, in your community, your friendship group, your home group, Bible study, online presence or even on a global scale. God can use you however and whenever He wants, according to His plan and purpose for you and it can be in the tiniest of ways or in really front-facing ways. Remember, your gift is given not just for your benefit, but for the building up of the entire body, whatever that looks like, don’t despise the little things. Don’t think because you are not making heaps of noise out there, you’re not doing anything, you are, and you may never know the impact of that until you are home with Christ.

As we seek to live in unity, we must be vigilant in guarding against division. This means being quick to forgive, slow to take offense, and always ready to extend grace to your fellow believers. It's not always easy, but it's essential for maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. I personally would like to be much better in this department, but we are all a work in progress, we are all training for reigning, and we are all being renewed day by day, so although I see my shortcomings in this department, I know Christ is leading me and that is a great trajectory to be on.

So, above all, we must keep Christ at the centre. When we focus on Jesus, our differences fade in importance compared to our shared devotion to Him. He is the head of the body, and as we all align ourselves with Him, we naturally come into alignment with each other.

Friends, let's remember that this unity in diversity isn't just a nice idea – it's a divine reality that we're called to live out. It's not always easy. We're all human, with our own preferences, backgrounds, and quirks. But when we embrace the truth of our oneness in Christ, something beautiful happens. We become a living, breathing testament to the transforming power of the gospel.

Imagine a world where the Church truly functioned as one body, with each part working in harmony with the others. What an impact we could have! We would be a beacon of hope in a divided world, a picture of what reconciliation and unity truly look like.

Be blessed today, my brothers and sisters. May we walk worthy of our calling, celebrating the unity we have in Christ while embracing the unique gifts He's given each of us. Let's be that living, breathing testament to the power of God's grace, working together as one Body to bring glory to our Head, Jesus Christ. As we go about our daily lives, may we continually seek to build up the body in love, always remembering that we are part of something far greater than ourselves – the glorious, diverse, united Body of Christ.

Phil