May 20th | Guard What You Already Have

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS 

GUARD WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE

Ephesians 4:3 “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”   

Today’s devotional verse refers back to Ephesians 4:1. In that verse St. Paul had reminded the Ephesian Christians of the fact they had been called by the Holy Spirit to faith in Jesus Christ through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. Because of their baptism there was nothing they needed to do further to obtain faith in Jesus. They had already received it as a gift from their heavenly Father. 

Here in verse 3, St. Paul urges them to be zealous, conscientious and eager to hold on to and guard the gift God had given them in Christ Jesus their Lord and Savior. The Greek word used here has in mind a person having received a gift that is a treasure. Something treasured is guarded, even at great cost. The goal is to keep it safe and secure. It is of great value!  

The treasure is first personal. That is, it is what you have received from God through His gift to you of faith in His Son Jesus. Even though this faith is personal at the same time God also creates “unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” This recalls the work of Jesus who is your source of this peace as is true for all who believe in Him.   

St. Paul discusses this peace in Ephesians 2:14-18, “For He (Jesus) Himself is our peace . . . His purpose was to create in Himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” 

The Holy Spirit creates this unity you have in the Body of Christ through the power of the Gospel and the Sacraments. This unity exists wherever and whenever these Means of Grace do their work. This unity cannot be created by humans nor can they sever it. But, a person can sever themselves from it. Thus, todays message, “be zealous, conscientious and eager to hold on to and guard the gift of unity God had given you in Christ Jesus your Lord and Savior. 

Prayer: Holy Spirit, keep me united with my fellow believers through our faith in Jesus to life everlasting. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

The gifts Christ freely gives He gives to you and me  
To be His Church, His bride, His chosen, saved and free!  
Saints blest with these rich gifts Are children who proclaim  
That they were won by Christ And cling to His strong name. 

The gifts flow from the font Where He calls us His own;  
New life He gives that makes UUs His and His alone.  
Here He forgives our sins With water and His Word;  
The triune God Himself Gives pow’r to call Him Lord. 

The gifts of grace and peace From absolution flow;  
The pastor’s words are Christ’s For us to trust and know.  
Forgiveness that we need Is granted to us there;  
The Lorde of mercy sends Us forth in His blest care. 

The gifts are there each day The holy Word is read;  
God’s children listen, hear, Receive, and they are fed.  
Christ fills them with Himself, Blest words that give them life.  
Restoring and refreshing Them for this world’s strife. 

The gifts are in the feast, Gifts far more than we see;  
Beneath the bread and wine Its food from Calvary.  
The body and the blood Removes our ev’ry sin;  
We leave His presence in His peace, renewed again. 

All glory to the One Who lavishes such love;  
The triune God in love Assures our life above.  
His means of grace for us Are gifts He loves to give;  
All thanks and praise for His Great love by which we live!  (LSB 602)