From: September 25, 2024
“For building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12-13 ESV).
In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he described the church as being gifted for “building up the body of Christ.” For God has a goal for those who believe in His Son. What is this goal? His goal is that they grow up to spiritual maturity, so that Jesus is fully formed in them. In other words, believers are called to become like Jesus.
Achieving this goal is not about self-effort, but yielding to God’s Spirit in every area. It means following a spiritual diet that moves on from milk to meat (1 Cor. 3:1-4, Heb. 5:11-14). “For solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (Heb. 5:14).
The Greek word translated “trained” in Hebrews 5:14 is “γυμνάζω” (gymnazo). It is the origin of the English word, “gymnasium.” So the church is like God’s gym, a place where believers receive a solid diet of God’s Word and where they are built up or trained through constant practice and mutual edification to grow in Christlikeness. As Paul told the Philippians, believers are to “work out” what God is “working In” (Phil. 2:12-13).
The danger for many Christians is that they fail to thrive. They are born again, but they continue as infants, still not ready for solid spiritual food. Paul says they are like children, “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:14). So their lives are not significantly different from those of the world.
Are you growing spiritually? Or are you struggling with a kind of spiritual lethargy? It may be because you’re neglecting God’s gym. It may be because you’re trying to live life on your own.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we want to work out what You are working in us. We want to yield every area to Your Spirit. We want to grow up to maturity in Jesus. We surrender our lives to You afresh this day. Fill us with Your Spirit. May people see Jesus in us today. In His name, amen.
From: September 25, 2023
“Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church” (Ephesians 4:15 NLT).
In this verse, Paul described both the goal and the means of our speech to one another. The goal is maturity in Christ. And the means is twofold: “truth” and “love.” The mission of the Church is to make disciples who are being conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29). The members of the Church are to speak the truth to one another, so that they don’t fall prey to false doctrine and worldly deception. Also, because they may be blind to their own sin and short comings. Yet, this truth should not be delivered in a harsh, judgmental way, but in a graceful and loving way. Our speech should have the goal of “building up” the hearer (Eph. 4:29).
Some speak without thinking, saying that they are just “telling it like it is.” While others are people-pleasers and either remain silent or avoid the difficult topic. But the Word calls for us to avoid both extremes. Instead, we are to speak the truth in love.
PRAYER: Dear Father, when we look at Jesus, we see the One who most clearly speaks the truth in love. He is our example. But more than that, He is the One who abides in us by Your Spirit, so that we can speak the truth in love too. Help us to guard our tongues, so that what we say today is edifying to the hearer and glorifying to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: September 25, 2022
ARE YOU BOWED DOWN BY IDOLATRY?
God gave Isaiah a prophecy against Babylon and its idol worship. It is sarcastic in its imagery, predicting that Babylon’s idols will “bow” down as they are lowered onto ox carts and carried away by the very people who used to “bow” down before them. Even the oxen are “bowed-down” under the weight of pulling these massive, manmade gods. This illustrates the ridiculous nature of those who would make gods of their wealth and possessions. In the end, their wealth cannot protect them and they cannot preserve it. They both “go off into captivity together,” as if in a funeral procession with heads bowed down.
Are you bowed down by idolatry? If you have put your love and trust in money and possessions, you will soon find out. As the apostle Paul wrote, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows” (1 Tim. 6:10).
Bowing down to material things soon weighs us down. Yet, those who trust in the Lord are not weighed down, but lifted up by the Redeemer who can save to the uttermost!
PRAYER: Dear Father, we confess our tendency to put our trust in money and possessions. Forgive us. Help us to pull our affections off of the temporal things of this world and to put them on You. We no longer want to be bowed down by the weight of idols. We are weary and heavy laden, so we come to You for rest. Strengthen us to walk in the Spirit today, knowing Your joy and peace. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: September 25, 2017
The Lord speaks. He has revealed Himself to us, not only through the evidence of creation, but also through communication through His prophets, like Isaiah. He declares His works, His plans and His character to us.
What can we learn from God’s revelation?
– The LORD (“Yahweh”) is the only God.
– The LORD created the heavens and the earth.
– The LORD established perfect conditions for life on earth.
– The LORD did not create in vain. His purposes will be
fulfilled.
– The LORD formed the earth as humanity’s home.
– The LORD desires recognition from His creatures that He
is the only true God and Creator.
Let us worship the LORD today! Let us shout, “LORD, You are God and there is no other!”
From: September 25, 2016
Both the goal and the means of our speech are described. The goal is maturity in Christ. The means is twofold: “truth” and “love.” The mission of the Church is to make disciples who are being conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29). The members of the Church are to speak the unvarnished, absolute truth to one another, so that they don’t fall prey to false doctrine and worldly deception. Yet, this truth should not be delivered in a harsh, judgmental way, but in a graceful and loving way. Our speech should have the goal of “building up” the hearer (Eph. 4:29). Some consider themselves truth-tellers and others are people-pleasers, but the Word calls for us to avoid both extremes. Instead, speak the truth in love.
From: September 25, 2015
Some call the pastor the minister, but this is not biblical. The members are supposed to be the ministers. The pastor is to be an equipper. When Christ established the Church, he gave the gift of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers for the purpose of “equipping the saints.” When the members of the modern church realize that they are the ministers, we will see a return to the world-changing effectiveness of the 1st century church.