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REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “Make every effort to keep the bond of peace” To make every effort means to put in more energy and be determined to succeed or make something work. In Christianity, peace is being in the right or good relationship with one another as a result of our faith and relationship with God. Making every effort to keep the bond of peace means we must strive or be determined to be in the right or good relationship with other believers as a prove of our faith and relationship with God. First, we shall reflect on the fact that making every effort to keep the bond of peace requires love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Secondly, we shall underscore the point that when we make every effort to keep the bond of peace through love, forgiveness and reconciliation, the Holy Spirit will keep us united for God’s mission.

Firstly, beloved in the Lord, peace is the by-product or end result of love, forgiveness and reconciliation. We were once sinners and separated from God hence we never enjoyed true peace in our lives as people were lost and dying to sin. However, Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, first made every effort to keep the bond of peace between sinful humanity and God. Jesus established and sustained the bond of peace between us and God therefore “…God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is the manifestation of God’s love and forgiveness to us so that we are now reconciled to Him and continue to live at peace with Him. Having become beneficiaries of the peace of God through His love, forgiveness and reconciliation in Jesus Christ, Paul further admonished the believers in Ephesus, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3) In other words, we have been called because God first loved, forgave and reconciled with us through Jesus Christ, therefore “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18). Dear friend in the Lord, have we been making every effort to keep the bond of peace in our congregation, society and family? It is regrettable to mention that some of us who identify ourselves as Christians rather make every effort to destroy the bond of peace in our congregations, societies and families through our selfishness, unforgiveness, slander, unhealthy gossip, bitterness and retaliatory actions among others. How can we experience peace in our churches, societies, workplaces and families when there is envy and assassination of character among us? How can we keep the bond of peace when there is division and groupism in our churches? How can we keep the bond of peace when there is classism and tribalism in the church and society? Certainly, peace will be elusive and unachievable until we follow the perfect example of Jesus’ love, forgiveness and reconciliation in making every effort to keep the bond of peace in our congregations, societies and families through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

Secondly, the Holy Spirit sustains our bond of unity when we make every effort to keep the bond of peace. Again, Paul reminds us to “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3) In other words, the unity of the Spirit among us is made active when we make every effort to keep the bond of peace through love, forgiveness and reconciliation. Put in another way, the Holy Spirit can not sustain our unity when there is chaos and disunity among us. We can not be fighting against one another in the church and expect the Holy Spirit to keep us united. We must have the will to live at peace and make every effort to keep the bond of peace and the Holy Spirit will keep us united for God’s purpose and mission.

Beloved in the Lord, will the Lord find us united and living at peace with one another during His second Advent? Without unity and peace among believers we cannot fulfil our calling, and if we fail to fulfil our calling, what account shall we render to the Lord as believers and stewards on the judgment day? Let us eschew all forms of division and conduct that will cause disunity among us and embrace one another in the spirit of love, forgiveness, reconciliation and unity even as we await the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In summary, we have reflected on the theme “Make every effort to keep the bond of peace” First, we have discovered that making every effort to keep the bond of peace requires love, forgiveness, and reconciliation, and secondly, when we make every effort to keep the bond of peace through love, forgiveness and reconciliation among ourselves, the Holy Spirit will keep us united for God’s mission. Shalom.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, strengthen us to make every effort to keep the bond of peace in our churches, societies and families. May we be filled with love, forgiveness and the desire to always reconcile with one another whenever we offend one another. May we be empowered to follow the perfect example of Jesus in loving one another and living at peace with all. Amen.