2010 Daily Bread - Ephesians 4
1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Whereas in the first 3 chapters, Paul lays out a theology of our relationship with God and how God in his infinite wisdom has created the church as the place where His purposes will unfold. Starting in chapter 4, he gets very practical as to what this new life will look like. First of all part starts with each believer’s calling to life a life worthy of the Lord.
Although this isn’t to earn God’s love, there is a sense of calling we each receive once we have accepted and believed in God’s grace through Jesus Christ. Sometimes we think of just ordained ministers as being called, but Paul reminds us that we are all called and have all been given gifts to build up the church. Chapter 4 is an excellent summary of all that the Church should be about and the different roles and functions that each of us play (ie. apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teachers).
But the key outcome that Paul spells out clearly in v.13 is that each role and function is for the purpose of bringing to maturity each believer and into the fullness of Christ. As each believer matures and becomes like Christ in their service using their unique anointing from Him for ministry, the Church will fulfill its mission.
Part of the maturity process is that we will no longer be prone to flip/flop with every idea and we will learn to recognize truth from error and be able to speak the truth in love to each other when we have strayed from the path of following Christ. Some might say, “Who am I to point out other’s faults!” Well the fact is as believers and members of the body of Christ we have a responsibility to each other to encourage and at times speak the truth in love for the sake of the body. This is part of the maturation process just as parents need to discipline their kids for the sake of their growth and functioning as healthy adults some day.
Are you living a life worthy of the calling you have received? You are worthy because of what Jesus has done for you and given you. The more we understand the nature of His grace and great gift for us in Christ, then we can get started on the process of growing to Christ-like maturity, and using our gifts to build the church.
Jesus we thank you for counting us worthy to be your disciples and calling us into the church to spread the Good News to the world. Help each of us to discern our place in the body and send Your Spirit so we may live out our calling and build up your Church on earth as it has been purposed in heaven. In Your name, Amen.
14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Whereas in the first 3 chapters, Paul lays out a theology of our relationship with God and how God in his infinite wisdom has created the church as the place where His purposes will unfold. Starting in chapter 4, he gets very practical as to what this new life will look like. First of all part starts with each believer’s calling to life a life worthy of the Lord.
Although this isn’t to earn God’s love, there is a sense of calling we each receive once we have accepted and believed in God’s grace through Jesus Christ. Sometimes we think of just ordained ministers as being called, but Paul reminds us that we are all called and have all been given gifts to build up the church. Chapter 4 is an excellent summary of all that the Church should be about and the different roles and functions that each of us play (ie. apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teachers).
But the key outcome that Paul spells out clearly in v.13 is that each role and function is for the purpose of bringing to maturity each believer and into the fullness of Christ. As each believer matures and becomes like Christ in their service using their unique anointing from Him for ministry, the Church will fulfill its mission.
Part of the maturity process is that we will no longer be prone to flip/flop with every idea and we will learn to recognize truth from error and be able to speak the truth in love to each other when we have strayed from the path of following Christ. Some might say, “Who am I to point out other’s faults!” Well the fact is as believers and members of the body of Christ we have a responsibility to each other to encourage and at times speak the truth in love for the sake of the body. This is part of the maturation process just as parents need to discipline their kids for the sake of their growth and functioning as healthy adults some day.
Are you living a life worthy of the calling you have received? You are worthy because of what Jesus has done for you and given you. The more we understand the nature of His grace and great gift for us in Christ, then we can get started on the process of growing to Christ-like maturity, and using our gifts to build the church.
Jesus we thank you for counting us worthy to be your disciples and calling us into the church to spread the Good News to the world. Help each of us to discern our place in the body and send Your Spirit so we may live out our calling and build up your Church on earth as it has been purposed in heaven. In Your name, Amen.
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