Page 1 - Pleasant Hill News Letter April 2025

March 30, 2025
Vol. 9, No. 22
March 30, 2025
Volume 9, No. 22
THE HILL MESSENGER
The Hill
Messenger
“The Unity of the Spirit”
“The Unity of the Spirit”
Unity of the Spirit is given to every member of the Body of Christ by virtue of their spiritual birth into God’s family. Just as there are many parts in the physical body that collectively form one body, there’s also great diversity in the family of God with a common spirit that binds us to one another. We have done nothing to create this union; it’s forged through our spiritual birth. God tells us that we are obligated to do everything we can to “keep” or “maintain” this unity.
Ephesians 3:3 (NIV)
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
When we accept Christ as our Lord and we are at peace with God, the bond of peace that
spiritually exists between us and Him also exists between us and every member in the One Body.
The English word “keep” means “to tend or guard carefully.” This isn’t a unity that we just passively accept and then do nothing about. Every farmer knows that he must tend to his crops if he’s to reap a bountiful harvest, which is why he expends great effort watering, weeding, fertilizing, and pruning.
The phrase “make every effort” means that we are to “work diligently” to see that this unity is maintained. We must tend to the unity of the spirit that God has given us, and we must also guard it like a dog guarding a bone. Protecting the unity of the spirit requires diligence and great effort because the Slanderer is constantly seeking ways to distract and divide us.
In every family there is a wide diversity of personalities and temperaments, which is certainly also true of the family of God. Our individual differences can cause tensions and conflicts, but when they arise, we are commanded to work hard to stay unified. God demands of us that we act with peace, being gentle, forgiving, and always showing loving service. We aren’t responsible for how others act toward us, but it’s always our responsibility, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18)
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Rev. Reginald G. Reid, Sr., Pastor
Pleasant Hill Baptist Church
4670 Lakeshore Drive
Shreveport, Louisiana 71109 E-Mail: Admin@pleasanthillbc.info Website: www.phbcshreveport.org Phone: (318) 636-6000
Fax: (318) 636-6029
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From the Pastor’s Desk