July 4th – July 10th, 2024
VERSE OF THE WEEK
He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God. – Ephesians 4:11-13
United
At a time when Americans are celebrating the anniversary of the declaration of their independence from the tyrannical rule of an English king, revisionists of history have endeavored to reframe the story and motivation of the nation’s founders into something less noble. With divisions such as these running through society, it is vital that those who follow the Lord Jesus Christ, who have found new life in Him, cultivate unity of spirit with one another. Today’s passage from Ephesians goes on to say that believers are no longer to be like children “tossed to and fro by the waters and carried about by every wind of doctrine, human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes“ (verse 14). Rather, believers are to speak the truth in love and build up the body of Christ through love. At this time of both celebration and solemnity, consider all that the United States has gone through and how the prayers of Christians have been sustaining the nation from its inception. Then pray that all who follow the Lord Jesus would nurture unity in the Holy Spirit, so that “they will know we are Christians by our love.”
