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WE ARE ONE (17)

by Stephen Whitney

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-3


Title: We Are One (17)
Series: Ephesians
Author: Stephen Whitney
Text: Ephesians 4:1-3

Sarah had always been quiet and reserved. Then a new family began attending the church and she developed a close relationship with the wife, Michelle. Sarah was delighted that she had finally found a friend she could confide in. Suddenly, Michelle turned cool. Sarah felt hurt, and she withdrew. Then Michelle asked if they could talk and Sarah agreed, but she was afraid. She was sure she had done something to offend Michelle.

To Sarah's surprise, Michelle apologized. "I'm sorry we drew apart," she said. "It was all my fault. It's always been hard for me to be trusting because of my family background. Please forgive me. Let's try again." Sarah forgave her, and the two women are now better friends than they were before.

Whenever we get close to someone, we take risks. Hurts are sure to come. And the process of mending a broken relation- ship can be painful. No two people will get along perfectly all of the time because we each have a sinful nature which make us
stubborn and selfish. The result is that we want our own way.

A Christian author wrote, "The love that unites will bring us suffering by our very contact with one another, because love is the resetting of the body of broken bones."

When we understand that God loved us so much that he chose us before we were born (1:4), that Christ died so we could be forgiven of our sins (1:7) and that the Holy Spirit gives us assurance of our salvation (1:13) then we can forgive others
when they sin against us.

In his first poem in 1711 English poet Alexander Pope -
"To err is human, to forgive divine."

Our lives are to be examples to others of what Christ has
done for us and what he can do in their life as well.

LIVE YOUR CALLING :1

His Circumstances

Paul always viewed his life and the circumstances in which he found himself as being controlled by God. That mean ...

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