Grace and Support for One Another

“God desires unity and love to be a sign or a hallmark of His church.”Kathy Spampinato

It is a joy to discover like-minded friends and nurture deep fellowship. It is very fulfilling to join with others who share our perspective on life and spirituality. Our ministry to God should include uniting with others under a God-given vision to reach, save, and mature people for God’s purpose. We can flow in the Holy Spirit as a unified team and glorify God. Jesus gave ministry as a gift to the church so his vision could come to pass.

Ephesians 4:11-14 ESV “And 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, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”

What are we offering to one another as Christians? Is it the grace and support that builds each other up, or is it judgement and criticism? God desires unity and love to be a sign or a hallmark of His church. He desires unbelievers to be drawn by the unity and love of His people. Is that what outsiders see and hear from us?

The enemy’s strategy is to get us to argue, disagree, and break relationships. Unfortunately, we often fall for that trap. The devil suggests that we are all hypocrites when we don’t walk in unity. He’ll use the beliefs and opinions that we cling to, to bring discord. Our culture demonstrates that differences indicate division that sows discord, strife and hatred, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Are our opinions causing division or leading us to offer strength and support to those who do things differently? Those without spiritual eyes will see the church in the eyes of the enemy's vision, but we have the opportunity to pursue God’s way.

The Ephesians scripture above, reveals Jesus’ purpose for ministry: to grow and mature the individuals within the church until we all reach maturity. This maturity grows because of unity in the faith, and unity in the knowledge of Christ. When we have a mutual faith and common understanding of the character and nature of God in Christ, we share the same heart. “The measure of the stature of the fullness of God” spoken of here is the spiritual growth that transforms us into the image of Christ. When we become like him in character and display the fruit of His Spirit, we are drawn closer to each other; more unified. In the first few verses of this chapter the Apostle Paul pushes us in this direction.

Ephesians 4:1-3 “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling in 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.”

This kind of unity and growth is worth the self-sacrifice, effort, and weariness that ministry sometimes brings. It is a joy to see people commit themselves to Christ; to watch them be healed and grow in their inner being. Not every step will be a smooth one because we all fumble and fall at times. We must offer grace and support to others and give God our humility and openness to change. The old adage is true: “There, but for the grace of God, go I.”

We face a choice today, and every day. Will we choose to walk in God’s ways, or continue to stay in the comfort of our own ways?

1 John 1:3,7 “…that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”