RTW 2024

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.

Ephesians 4:1-6

And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 3:6

• Ancient Greek culture often viewed the humility, gentleness, and meekness that Paul talked about negatively as a weakness.
• Pauls’ call for unity and peace were common themes in general, but Paul’s call was a much deeper, more radical teaching that followers of Jesus were expected to live out. “Even the common Greek rhetorical theme of concord (unity, peace) does not match Paul’s emphasis on the unity that believers in Jesus share and must live out.” IVP Bible Background Commentary
• Paul was writing to a Church that struggled with unity. We struggle today with this same thing.
• Our ability to live in humility and listen to one another is part of our call as Jesus followers.
• We are called to live differently than the culture around us–to exhibit love and humility even among disagreement.

Live humbly. Seek to listen and strive for peace.