31 DAYS OF UNITY CAMPAIGN

DAY EIGHTEEN

  • 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

God's transformative work in the world starts with His work among us, His Church. Therefore, as God begins to work within us, we become fully aware of the calling on our lives to restore that which is broken: our relationships, our communities, and the Body of Christ. The increasing divisions and animosities within the church highlight our urgent need to listen to and respond to this call. In the passages for (re)new, we are listening for the voice of the Spirit that is seeking to heal the Body of Christ.

As you reflect on the passage for the day, ask yourself these questions:

  • Where did you stop in the passage? What word or phrase jumps out to you?

  • What vision for the church did you find in the passage? What hopefulness for the church?

  • Where does our work of unity begin?


TODAY’S PRAYER

Create in us clean hearts, O God, that we may learn to be your people, and live in unity with one another. Give us the gift of humility and strengthen us to live in sacrificial love for one another. May we glorify you by being peacemakers in a world of division. Amen

Commentary: (Re)new

Video Reflection

Today’s video reflection is from Angela Wesley, CEO of ProGrace