Day 1: One Body, One Spirit

Scripture: Ephesians 4:4-6

Paul doesn’t kick things off with all the ways we’re different. He doesn’t say, “Okay, here’s what makes you and you and you unique, and now let’s try not to fight about it.” No. He starts with what we all share. One God. One faith. One Spirit holding us all together. That’s the foundation. That’s the anchor.

Think about that for a second. When you walk into church on Sunday, you’re not just stepping into a building full of strangers. You’re stepping into a family. And family…well, family isn’t about everyone nodding in agreement all the time. Family isn’t about everyone looking the same, thinking the same, acting the same. Family is about a shared identity. Family is about a common heartbeat. We might bump heads, we might argue, we might even roll our eyes at each other, but at the core, we have the same Father. We have the same Spirit. We have the same hope.

That’s the thing about God’s kind of unity, it doesn’t erase differences. It doesn’t make everyone a clone of each other. It says, “Here’s the glue. Here’s the foundation. Everything else? Work it out, love each other, and let Me hold you together.” And friends, that kind of unity? It’s powerful. It’s a force the world can’t ignore.

Application:

Today, look at someone in your church family you don’t naturally connect with. Instead of focusing on what makes you different, remember what you share in Christ. Pray for them. Maybe even send a text or encourage them face-to-face.

Prayer:

“Father, thank You for calling me into Your family. Help me see my brothers and sisters the way You see them—not through the lens of preference, but through the unity we share in Jesus. Amen.”

Day 2: Walking Worthy Together

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6

Yesterday, we talked about the foundation: one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one Father. That’s the anchor. That’s what keeps us from drifting off into our own little worlds, doing our own thing, and thinking we’re the measure of all things. Today, let’s lean into what that actually looks like on the ground, in real life.

Paul doesn’t just drop this truth and walk away; he says, “Walk worthy of the calling you’ve received.” That’s not optional. That’s not a suggestion. That’s a command from the God who made you, who knows you, and who wants you to be part of something bigger than yourself. It means showing up, day in, day out, with humility, gentleness, patience, and love. It’s not flashy. It’s not about making headlines. It’s the slow, steady work of a life pointed at Christ and His people.

Unity doesn’t just happen. It doesn’t drop from heaven like a parachute. It happens when we stop staring in the mirror, stop keeping score, and start lifting one another up. It’s choosing to bear with the quirks, the annoying habits, the differences that would normally drive us crazy. Imagine a room full of people trying to shine their own little lights, everybody competing, everybody showing off. Now imagine the same room, but everyone points their lights in the same direction, all aiming at one thing: Jesus. That’s the kind of unity God wants.

A room full of real people, with real differences, coming together, not losing their uniqueness, but letting it serve the bigger picture: the glory of Christ. It’s messy, sure, but that’s exactly the kind of unity that changes the world.

Application:

Today, think about one area where you’re tempted to insist on your way or your opinion. Instead of pressing your agenda, step back. Look for a way to serve or encourage someone else. It doesn’t have to be huge. Sometimes, a simple word of affirmation, a listening ear, or letting someone else lead in a small thing is enough to protect and build unity.

Prayer:

Jesus, help me to walk worthy of the calling You’ve given me. Keep my heart soft, my pride in check, and my eyes on You. Teach me to love like You love, to serve like You serve, and to fight for unity with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen.

Day 3: A Living Apologetic

Scripture: John 17:20–21

Jesus prayed for you. Did you catch that? Not for the disciples alone. Not just for the people in that upper room that night, but for you. For me. For all who would come to believe in Him through their word. He prayed that we, His people, would be one. And think about that for a second. The Savior of the world, on the night before His death, lifts His eyes to the Father and says, “I want them to be one. I want them to be united.”

Why? Because our unity isn’t just a nice idea. It’s not some warm, fuzzy, optional add-on to being a Christian. Our unity is the sermon. Our unity is the apologetic. It’s the proof to the world that Jesus is real, that His love is real, that His Spirit actually works. When we stop clawing each other apart, stop fighting over preferences, petty differences, who gets the credit, and start linking arms around Jesus, the world notices. They can see it. They might not know your theology. They might not know your church’s name. But they see the family, the body, the people living and loving together, and they can’t help but say, “There’s something different here. There’s something holy here.”

Unity isn’t just about us. It’s not about comfort or convenience or avoiding hard conversations. It’s about showing a divided, fractured, clawing-at-each-other world the beauty of a united Savior. And when we get that right, when we let His Spirit orchestrate it, it becomes irresistible. People can’t help but look up, notice, and think: “Only God could do that.”

Application:

Pay attention to the way you talk about other believers this week. Online. At work. With friends. Ask yourself: Does what I’m saying show the world that Jesus is worth following?

Prayer:

Jesus, You prayed for me before I was even born. Help me live in a way that answers Your prayer. May my unity with others point people straight to You. Amen.

Here’s the bottom line: the world doesn’t need another group tearing itself apart. It doesn’t need another church divided by preferences, styles, personalities, or pride. It doesn’t need more people clawing and fighting just to prove a point. What the world needs… desperately… is to see a people who are different. A people who are united. A people who, in the way they love each other, in the way they serve, in the way they forgive, point straight to Jesus.

Think about it: people are watching. They see the chaos outside, the fighting in families, in communities, even in workplaces. And then they see the church. And if all we do is mirror the world… they’ll just pass us by. But when they see a body of believers who love differently, who lift each other up instead of tearing each other down… it makes people stop and notice. It makes people wonder, “What’s going on there? How can they actually love like that?” And the answer isn’t good programs or better preaching. It’s Jesus.

So let’s be those people. Not super-chickens pecking each other to death...each one trying to be the best, each one trying to get ahead at everyone else’s expense. No, let’s be the kind of brothers and sisters who run after Jesus together, side by side, encouraging each other, protecting each other, and letting His Spirit weave all our differences into something beautiful. The world is watching. Let’s show them the difference Jesus makes.