FRIDAY - JUNE 12

Read. Ephesians 4:1-6
Therefore, as a prisoner for the Lord, I encourage you to live as people worthy of the call you received from God. 2 Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience. Accept each other with love, 3 and make an effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit with the peace that ties you together. 4 You are one body and one spirit, just as God also called you in one hope. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 and one God and Father of all, who is over all, through all, and in all.

Reflect. Today's reading takes a break from Acts and looks at a specific teaching given to the early church community. What does this passage say to and for the early church? What does this passage say to the church today? The first community of church that was the focus of yesterday's reflection was marked by unity and shared purpose, but as we continue to study Acts we will find that this unity was sometimes a struggle. They had to work to maintain unity. How can you live into verse 3 to "make an effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit"?

• The early church did not always live into this unity perfectly, nor do we. Make a list of the ways that you have fallen short in living up to this passage. Then make a list of the ways that you can listen to the Spirit and correct the ways that you have come up short. Ask God to help you live fully into this calling from Ephesians. 

Pray. God, you are one and you call on your people to be one. Help me to be a person who is so filled with your spirit that I pursue your unity and your peace in all of my life. Amen. 

COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST
Doug. Bobby. Collier. Glenn. Adam.  Mary.  Clyde.  Linda. Betty Carolyn. Jeff. Albert. Richard. Lois. Ross. Tiny. Donald. Bill. Barbara. Andreas. Baker Family.