Ephesians 4:1-6

Blessed 104th Anniversary, Kum Yan!

As we celebrate this 104th Anniversary, we can all look back with gratitude the Lord’s continual blessings on Kum Yan Methodist Church.

Since the inception of the early church in the Book of Acts, there have always been differences within the church. In Acts 6:1 for instance, you may recall the conflict arising between the Hebraic Jews and Grecian Jews relating to the daily distribution of food to the widows. When we examine the larger Church today, we see the different denominations, such as Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists having their distinctives. In a local church setting, different congregations may adopt different views about traditional and contemporary worship, for example. And yet we hear Paul say in Ephesians 4:4-6 the church is one. And we wonder. If we are one, why does division mark us instead of unity?

Key to uniting the church is bearing the fruit of godly love, namely, humility, gentleness, patience and hard work.

Paul’s message in Ephesians 4:1-6 is instructive. Key to uniting the church is bearing the fruit of godly love, namely, humility, gentleness, patience and hard work. Humility means the believer is not to think of oneself more highly than he or she ought to. It means putting Christ first, others second and oneself last. Gentleness or meekness is the ability to place one’s power under control while patience is the gracious ability to endure hardship without fighting back and bearing each other’s differences. Finally, like a happy marriage that does not occur by chance but through sheer hard work and heartache (!), unity is maintained through conscious and constant effort by all.

In summary, the secret to maintaining the unity of the body is by being at one in Christ. This is accomplished by living a life of humility, gentleness, patience, hard work and love with one another- this is what we are called to do as a family of God. And so, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I bless us all “to live a life worthy of the calling we have received” (Ephesians 4:1).

Blessed 104th Anniversary, Kum Yan!