Friday's Follow-up
Versus
Ephesians 4:1-13
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 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.
Pondering Point
Note that we are all responsible for helping Jesus’ body get built up, reach unity in the faith and knowledge of Jesus, become mature and attain the whole measure of the fullness of being in Christ Jesus. Pray now about your role in this growth process with Father God.
Prayer
Father God, I take on the Apostle Paul's words for my prayer today: I want to live a life worthy of the calling You’ve given me. I want to be humble and gentle. I want to be patient and bear with other people in love -- like You do. Help me make an effort through the Holy Spirit to be at peace with others, to not let strife or bitterness linger. Help me to display Your grace to this world just as You have displayed such grace to me as Your child. I now pray this same prayer for my brothers and sisters united with me in bringing Your message to this world in need. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Micro-Moment of Discipleship
Considering how the Body of Christ functions, part two (of two)
The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!"
(1 Corinthians 12:21)
Eyes see what is going on around a person. Within the church, people like this see the needs in a church and community and relay such information to the mind for action. The eyes of Jesus stay watchful of people and communicate to the rest of the body opportunities to love and serve. Who are the eyes in your church? Thank God for them. Pray that they have the ‘eyes’ of Jesus to benefit the church.
If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? (1 Corinthians 12:17)
Ears, like the eyes, do a great deal of receiving information that the body of Christ can use. The ears of a church pick up different things than the eyes – in both the church and community. While this should be true of all of us, these people are great listeners, in tune with things that others are oblivious to. Who are the ears of your church? Thank God for them and ask that they hear clearly.
those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable (1 Corinthians 12:22)
Nose Hairs: Nose hairs serve a valuable purpose in keeping unhealthy germs out of the body. For a church, that might mean keeping out a wrong teaching, a wrong spirit, or a wrong attitude. These people teach us how to mix forgiveness with tactful telling of the truth – for the sake of health in the body of Christ. Pause and think who may be the nose hairs in your church; thank God for nose-hair types who help the church stay healthy by keeping the wrong stuff out.
Prayer
Father God, I take time in this moment to thank You for those people in the body of Christ who see and hear the needs of others who can benefit from love and service in Your name. Thank You also for those fight to keep out unhealthy spirits, attitudes and the like. Bless us all to work together to Your glory. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.