Dear SUM community,

I am knitted to you.

I am committed to you.

I say this as a motto as we embark on chapter four of our study of Ephesians; and I say it because one of the well-known themes of the book of Ephesians is unity. It is in this particular chapter that Paul brings that -- unity -- to life.

We are knitted + committed to one another.

My friends, I think that's one reason we struggle so much in a spiritually mismatched marriage: It's that we feel truly knitted to the church. As Ian said on Monday, church is very, very important to God. 

Yet, our spouse pulls us back from that, and so unity with the church becomes something we have to fight for.

Of course, we fight for our marriages too, critically so. Paul addresses that next, in chapter 5. But for today let's consider unity with the church.

If you would, read Ephesians 4 now, and then we'll snack on a few verses. 

First, I just love that image of being knitted with you, and the other Christians who God has brought into my life purposely. It's like we're joined by ligaments, muscles, skin, and deeply threaded around each other. 

...Christ -- from whom the whole body joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love (v. 16, NKJV)

... the Head, from whom all the body nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. (Colossians 2:19, NKJV)

This 'being knitted' means I must care for your best. We must care for each other's best. 

Practically, for me, I can see that God has put certain people in my life who are meant to be there. For a start, you the SUM community are important to me. The SUM leaders are special people to me alongside that. Then there's a lady I lead the prayer team with at my house: She's important to me, even though I don't know her well. And there are other friends who God has put in my life, about whom I can say: 'I've got your back'.

The whole body of Christ is important, but certain people are pointed out to us in our lives because God asks us to steward certain things with them, or steward the relationship itself. And I'll fight for those relationships if they're attacked.

In the chapter we're looking at now, Paul gives us many pointers about how to walk in unity. It's perhaps summed up best by the last verse which reads:

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (v. 32, NKJV)

But what about those Christians who are 'difficult'? What then? What if someone makes it really difficult to be in unity with them?

Lynn gave me a great prayer once for this. She suggested we bless a difficult relationship with a spirit of unity and cooperation.  Let's not underestimate the power of our words when we do that. So, we can say (behind their backs):

I bless you, and my relationship with you, with a spirit of unity and cooperation.

That said, Paul said you should note those who cause divisions and offences and avoid them (Romans 16:17). That's ok: We don't have to be knitted around everyone, and some people in the church are too divisive to be in relationship with. We can still love them from afar.

BUT, back to being positive because this chapter is deliciously glorious: Our chapter speaks of how there is one Spirit, from whom we drink. We are to walk as if we celebrate and remember that Spirit, and especially as we see it in others.

I'll finish with Paul's words there:

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;

One Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:1-6, NKJV)

My friends, what experiences have you had of being knitted together with other believers? Let's chat more!

Love,

Ann