Ephesians 4:2-3 "Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace."
We need to remember as we open our hearts to grow we are not just growing for our own benefit but for the benefit of others. We can't ridicule people for where they are in their walk but be can love them and keep being there for them as they grow. If we put the Spirit as the lead for what we do and how we act He will always keep us humble and focused on glorifying God. Then what ever we do as Christians; no matter how long we call ourselves that, it will be done from the heart and not by our sinful desires.
As we surrender our will and learn what our purpose in Christ is our attitude will change and we will work together to build up not tear them down. Ephesians chapter 4 verse 11 says, "Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers." We are all fit in there somewhere to help strengthen the body of Christ. When we realize we have a responsibility to learn, to grow, and to live out our Christian walk the Kingdom of God gets the glory and we are doing what God desires.
Verse 12 says, "Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ." There is purpose for us going to church and there is purpose for us serving and giving at church, we just need to continue to grow and never be satisfied with just knowing Jesus. Verse 13 goes on to say, "This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ." We all should be working together for change and working together for people to know Christ. If we just think that going to church is enough the church will never become the fullness and complete standard of Christ.
Warren Wiersbe wrote this about the last verse and it really hit the nail on the head. "Paul was looking at the church on two levels in this section. He saw the body of Christ, made up of all true believers, growing gradually until it reaches spiritual maturity, "measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ." But he also saw the local body of believers ministering to each other; growing together, and thereby experiencing spiritual unity. Spiritual unity is not something we manufacture. It is something we already have in Christ, and we must protect and maintain it." As we continue to seek wisdom and apply that wisdom the body of Christ works together and the church is strengthened. This takes us forgetting what we do and listening to the Spirit in us so we work together to shine like Christ. Verse 23 says, "Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes." We must always keep working to know all we can about Christ so we get the full benefits of knowing Him. Amen
We need to remember as we open our hearts to grow we are not just growing for our own benefit but for the benefit of others. We can't ridicule people for where they are in their walk but be can love them and keep being there for them as they grow. If we put the Spirit as the lead for what we do and how we act He will always keep us humble and focused on glorifying God. Then what ever we do as Christians; no matter how long we call ourselves that, it will be done from the heart and not by our sinful desires.
As we surrender our will and learn what our purpose in Christ is our attitude will change and we will work together to build up not tear them down. Ephesians chapter 4 verse 11 says, "Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers." We are all fit in there somewhere to help strengthen the body of Christ. When we realize we have a responsibility to learn, to grow, and to live out our Christian walk the Kingdom of God gets the glory and we are doing what God desires.
Verse 12 says, "Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ." There is purpose for us going to church and there is purpose for us serving and giving at church, we just need to continue to grow and never be satisfied with just knowing Jesus. Verse 13 goes on to say, "This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ." We all should be working together for change and working together for people to know Christ. If we just think that going to church is enough the church will never become the fullness and complete standard of Christ.
Warren Wiersbe wrote this about the last verse and it really hit the nail on the head. "Paul was looking at the church on two levels in this section. He saw the body of Christ, made up of all true believers, growing gradually until it reaches spiritual maturity, "measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ." But he also saw the local body of believers ministering to each other; growing together, and thereby experiencing spiritual unity. Spiritual unity is not something we manufacture. It is something we already have in Christ, and we must protect and maintain it." As we continue to seek wisdom and apply that wisdom the body of Christ works together and the church is strengthened. This takes us forgetting what we do and listening to the Spirit in us so we work together to shine like Christ. Verse 23 says, "Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes." We must always keep working to know all we can about Christ so we get the full benefits of knowing Him. Amen
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