July 2026 (Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith)

Bible Passage: Ephesians 4:3-6

Reflection.

God wants us to be His united people, and we derive that unity from Him. God Himself is one - Father, Son, and Spirit united in harmony and unity.

Paul is challenging us as followers of Jesus to make every effort to maintain the unity we have through the Holy Spirit. We were born into God's family, united by the Spirit alive inside each of us. Despite our physical differences, our unity is centred in each of us being one with Christ.

We find our unity in Jesus. Peace becomes our way of celebrating our unity in Christ. We recognise that this peace comes from being united with Jesus and focusing on the oneness of God. We are part of the one body of Christ because the one Spirit lives in each of us.

While binding ourselves together in peace is our responsibility, we must realise that lasting unity is found only in God. As we make every effort to bind ourselves together in peace, God is at work transforming us through the Spirit to become more like Jesus. The Spirit continually unites us by the power of God's outpoured love working through each of us.

We must recognise that being united as disciples of Jesus does not mean that we all agree on everything. Being united means that we all are committed to Jesus as LORD and to His way of life: righteous living and serving others and wanting the best for them.

Let us all remember Jesus’ prayer to the Father for the unity of us all in

John 17: 20-23:

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one - 23 I in them and you in me - so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

Discussion Starters.

1. How do I celebrate being united with Christ? How do I share this unity with others?

2. How do I help keep the unity of the Spirit, personally and in the community?

3. Do I contribute to the unity of the community? How?