Uber-Spatial Unity

In Ephesians 4:1 the author, Apostle Paul, acknowledges two Spatial contexts in motion: Physical and Spiritual (both being Relational in nature).

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

Every follower of Christ, through salvation, is equipped to live a life worthy of their new place in Fathers kingdom, His family. In fact, living a worthy life isn't something earned but a lifestyle overflowing with the eternal work Jesus HAS done and IS doing in the Christian life. Fantastic!

This new life, this worthy lifestyle according to Paul, takes place simultaneously on two Spatial fronts:

1. Physical Space: (4:2-3) Paul urges the Asian Church to foster and share in awesome community with one-another. Being gentle and humble, patient and intentionally peaceful and united...these take shape alongside other human beings - Physically and thus relational, mental and emotional.
2. Spiritual Space: (4:4-6) Paul goes on to urge unity in the Spiritual realm. A one-ness that encompasses the Body of believers everywhere, the One-ness of The Father, Jesus and The Spirit in the Trinity. The One-ness of Gods Sovereignty in and through everything - of faith and baptism and hope. A Spiritual Unity that surpasses every physical border and boundary.

I wouldn't be off the mark in saying that this Spatial Unity is just as important in the Body today, the Church (universal and local), as it was at the time of Pauls Epistle to the Ephesians.

Uber-Spatial Unity is a call, a charge, an urgent and refreshed word to the Body to be united physically beyond denominations, styles, personal preferences and expressive flavors in such a way that the Love of Christ would be on display on every street corner and in every home in between.

Sounds uber-idealistic I suppose. Yeah, it is.

Uber-Physical Unity only works as it is partnered with Uber-Spiritual Unity. That the very heart of Spatial One-ness that Paul urges for (4:4-6, Philip. 1:27-28, 1 Cor. 12) is first found in the glue of the Spiritual Space holding the very Physical realm together.

Every Physically-spatial relationship is first impacted by Spiritually-spatial truth.

As much as you and I can imagine, discern and intentionally foster spiritual unity on the major doctrinal issues with brothers and sisters in our communities we ought to then be intentional in fostering physical unity for the sake of the world.

Where is the Spirit encouraging you to be unified more and more both in spirit with your Savior and in relationship with the Church?