The Pilgrim Path---Ephesians 4: 1 – 6 

I therefore, a prisoner for the LORD, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit---just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call---one LORD, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

“EAGER TO MAINTAIN…”

When my wife mentions she is preparing a meal I really like---I am eager to enjoy it! I am eager to see a sports team I love, finally do well. I am eager to “see” a relative---I have been separated from by miles and months. The Holy Spirit taps into our “eagerness” by telling us as members of the Body of Christ---to bring that sense of energy and animation into the Church. Strive by the Holy Spirit’s enablement to maintain peace---and productivity--- within the Church of Jesus. Give yourself to being a source of “life” and joy to the Church to which you belong!

Ask the Holy Spirit to equip you so you will be “intentional” about blessing the Body of Christ in 2022. Walk worthy of your calling…

From Paul David Tripp: Church life was not designed to be comfortable. What is the church? It’s a chosen gathering of unfinished people, still grappling with the selfishness of sin and the seduction of temptation, living in a fallen world, where there is deception and dysfunction all around. There is nothing comfortable or easy in this plan. The church is intended to be messy and chaotic, because the mess is intended to yank us out of our self-sufficiency and self-obsession to become people who really do love God and our neighbors. God puts broken people next to broken people (including leaders), not so they would be comfortable with one another but so they would function as agents of transformation in the lives of one another. You simply won’t have joy in being part of this plan unless you find joy in living a lifestyle of self-denial and willing servanthood.

From Thomas Watson: Satan’s kingdom grows only by making divisions. In the Corinthian church, Satan knew no better way to dam up the current of blessing than to throw in an apple of strife and divide them into parties; one was for Paul, and another was for Apollos, but few for Christ. Surely God will never be the Father to those who are not sons of peace…

From John Duncan: When we reach yonder country, we shall wonder what foolish children we have been…

From John Calvin: For what is the reason why we are so severe towards our neighbors and why there is nothing but rigor and roughness with us, but because each one of us longs to have the pre-eminence? That then is the reason why there is no gentleness among us. And therefore St. Paul has linked meekness with lowliness, for lowliness is the mother of meekness (Ephesians 4: 1 – 5).

From Charles Haddon Spurgeon: The armor-bearer of Sin is Self-confidence…Oh for the constraining love of Jesus to keep us active and useful!

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason