"Maintain the Oneness of the Spirit" - 'EARNESTLY ENDEAVOR' TO MAINTAIN UNITY

 As Paul noted, we might at times need to work hard to maintain the oneness of the spirit. That could especially be the case if a brother or a sister has offended us. Does maintaining unity always require that we approach the person and talk out the problem? Not necessarily. Ask yourself, 'will making an issue over this difference promote unity or cause more contention?' Sometimes the wise course is simply to overlook it or to forgive. - PROVERBS 19:11; MARK 11:25. 

As the apostle Paul wrote, let us keep "putting up with one another in love." (Ephesians 4:2) One reference work says that this phrase ca be expressed as "receiving them as they are." This means that we accept that our fellow believers are sinful, as we are. Of course, we are trying to put on "the new personality."  (Ephesians 4:23, 24) However, none of us can do so perfectly. (Romans 3:23) If we accept that fact, it is easier for us to put up with one another, to be forgiving, and to thereby "maintain the oneness of the spirit." 

Next time: "Maintain the Oneness of the Spirit" - "EARNESTLY ENDEAVOR TO MAINTAIN UNITY - Conclusion

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