The New Testament uses the phrase, “make every effort” eight times - each with a life-shaping principle worth your full and concentrated effort. Here is number 3:
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3)
What are we keeping? The unity, or oneness of the Spirit. That is, we are one together in the Body of Jesus and that oneness is the highest priority. Our goal is to maintain our connection to one another, even in times of conflict, offense, betrayal, and disappointment.
Yes, but how? “Through the bond of peace” or the binding, or tying together, of peace. In other words, peace is the bond that holds us together and keeps our unity. Peace is the absence of trouble or the presence of tranquility.
How do I maintain tranquility in the presence of conflict? By practicing the previous two verses: 1) live a life worthy of the calling you have received and 2) be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
The calling I have received is to be with Jesus, become like Jesus and do what Jesus did. At the core of this is servant leadership - to suffer for wrong rather than lose the unity of God’s Spirit by demanding my own rights. The just suffers for the unjust; the mature for the immature. This is the nature of godliness.
Then, I am to practice the humility of Jesus who did not consider equality with God a thing to be clung to and used to his own advantage. We offer peace as a binding in our relationship when we place unity above winning, serving above being served, and giving above receiving.
The surprise we find is that when we place humility, gentleness, patience and love in the center of difficult relationships, it turns the tide toward peace and actually makes agreement, progress, and unity far more accessible. We just have to go first most of the time.
Make every effort to enter through the narrow gate.
Make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification.
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.