By: Carole Lynne Haines
Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
(Ephesians 4:1-6)
There is so much wisdom packed into these six verses. God brought the phrase, “bond of peace” to my mind this morning, and I have a story to tell you about it. I have been a very self-absorbed person most of my life and have caused so much trouble and pain for others. One place I have caused it is in the Church and my grief has been so great over this. I have sent out apologies to everyone I know I have harmed, but sometimes a personal touch is much more healing than an email, phone call or letter.
I was driving to work and passing a Church where I had caused trouble, the worship leader was outside. I used to sing on their worship team and let’s just say that I had been difficult. I felt a check in my spirit that I should stop and apologize in person. I kept driving, being afraid of rejection. I got a phone call two minutes later that required me to turn around and go back home to retrieve something. I whispered a prayer to God, “If she is still outside, I will stop and ask her forgiveness personally.”
Sure enough, she was still outside. I stopped, got out of the car and did what God had asked of me. There were hugs of forgiveness and affirmations of God’s grace and kindness. As soon as I got back in the car, I got another phone call that informed me I didn’t need to retrieve the thing at my house. I laughed out loud with God and said, “Lord you are so funny. Thank You for making me turn around.”
God is serious about this His Beloved Body, “being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” I was so blessed that day through obedience, and so was my beloved sister in Christ. If God speaks to your spirit about reconciling with someone, don’t ignore it. Don’t resist it. There are blessings all around for those who obey His voice and live in His bond of peace. Go be reconciled. Be the blessing of grace to others today.
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