Obliged to Peace

Ephesians 4:1-3 KJV

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

I see two major but well connected themes that run through this chapter:

· The first has to do with walking worthy of our vocation as Christians

· The second has to do with keeping unity in the local church

Paul uses his own circumstance as a prisoner for an object lesson to these saints. He expresses the urgency of this endeavor for unity in the body, which is a local church, as a "bond of peace". 

The relationship we, who are the saints of the Lord possess with one another is, as much as anything, a type of bond. We are to be committed to this unity and relationship as a prisoner is committed to his cell. We are to follow the covenantal instructions in this chapter as prisoner is to follow those of the guards. These are non optional instructions. We are besought to do them, but we should not take that to mean they are not weighty. 

As a prisoner of peace, observe the teachings of this chapter that church unity may result.