This chapter is packed full of wisdom about unity and maturity and the purpose of the grace gifts which are given to believers; it’s about building others up, walking in forgiveness, and treating others well. It’s a challenging and excellent passage definitely worth reading or rereading! While the whole chapter is profound, I’d like us to zoom in on verses 11-16 of Ephesians 4 like a 4-year-old might and dissect it with incessant questions:
“To each one grace has been given—some to be apostles, some prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers.”
WHY?
“To prepare God’s people for works of service.”
WHY?
“So that the body of Christ may be built up.”
FOR HOW LONG?
“Until 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.”
WHAT THEN?
“Then 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.”
WHAT WILL HAPPEN INSTEAD?
“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”
WHY?
“In 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.”
What a magnificent purpose and process God planned for our maturity and servant-life as a believer. It’s important that we make sure to align our thinking and actions with the above paragraph and not this one:
“I ignore, devalue, or misuse the outworking of grace as it is expressed through gifts. I’m not concerned with building the body of Christ up, attaining unity or the full measure of maturity in Christ. Instead, I continue to be blown around by different doctrines and wonder why I feel like I’m drowning. I don’t particularly value or practice speaking the truth in love and I don’t live my Christian life as a supporting ligament doing my part to support the whole body.”
As disgusting as that was for me to write and for you to read, I’m afraid some of us can relate to those ways of thinking. If that’s you in any way, please repent and live according to the ways of the Lord. It’s what we must do if we are to be genuine Christ-followers. No more excuses, let’s make definitive changes where needed. And if you are on track living according to this passage in Ephesians 4, well done! Let this be a helpful reminder to keep with it.