Building Up the Body of Christ

The People of God Set Priorities
Living as a Community of Believers
Glorify God with Your Body

Ephesians 4:7-16

The Message

^7-13 But that doesn’t mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift. The text for this is,

He climbed the high mountain,
He captured the enemy and seized the booty,
He handed it all out in gifts to the people.

Is it not true that the One who climbed up also climbed down, down to the valley of earth? And the One who climbed down is the One who climbed back up, up to highest heaven. He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ’s followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.

^14-16 No prolonged infancies among us, please. We’ll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.

For Reflection

We, made in the image of God, are meant to evolve.  As God's creation evolves and is ever changing, we also grow into the grace that God wills for our lives.  The blood of God flows through us.  We are meant to change, to mature in the likeness of God.

Pray

that in God's time we all will grow in love, compassion, and grace.  Pray that the church continues to grow in grace accommodating each new challenge with hope and the creative power of God.  Pray to be challenged in ways that encourage our personal growth and communal growth toward the full realization of the Kingdom of God.