Select Page

Growing Up

by | Jul 30, 2024 | Body of Christ, Focus, Unity

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. … And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, 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, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the Head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

(Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16 ESV)

Do you remember what it was like to go through puberty? Suddenly your clothes didn’t fit right anymore. You tripped over your own feet and bumped into doorways, because your body wasn’t where you expected it to be. And you had to learn to deal with a flood of new feelings and experiences as mind and body both made the passage to adulthood. Shyness, frustration, worry about the future—it’s a hard time to live through, even when people tell you what to expect.

In today’s reading, Paul is describing God’s vision for the Christian church. We are Christ’s body even now, and when we come to full maturity, we will have as much variety among us as there is in the whole human race—men, women, and children, old and young, from every race and tribe and nation under heaven. And we all have different gifts and different roles to play. But we have one Head, Jesus Himself; and we follow Him in love. And when we are full-grown, we will be in perfect harmony, both with Him and with each other.

But we’re not there yet. At this point in time, the church doesn’t look like the glorious creation she will be on the Last Day when Jesus comes to bring us into God’s kingdom! We have arguments and controversies. Some of our members are all too loud, while others never speak up, or get drowned out. Some of us are overworked and others are barely using their gifts at all. Things don’t work together smoothly. It’s easy to get discouraged as we look at the church in the world.

It will be all right. Jesus is our Head now as He has always been. He brought us into being when He gave Himself for us—laying down His own life on the cross and then rising from the dead three days later. And for what? As the song in Revelation says, “Worthy are You … for You were slain, and by Your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and You have made them a Kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10 ESV).

It will be all right. Just as Jesus bought us and redeemed us, so He will also remake us, so that we will live as one body in truth, loving one another and serving God with humility and gentleness and joy and everlasting peace. God has promised, and He will make it happen.

We Pray: Lord Jesus, when I get discouraged about the church, bring my eyes back to You—and help me to trust You. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Originally published in The Lutheran Hour on July 31, 2024
Used by permission from International Lutheran Laymen’s League, all rights

Reflection Questions:
1. What makes you most discouraged about the Christian church?
2. What makes you most hopeful?
3. What job do you think God is calling you to do as a member of the body of Christ right now?

Categories

Archives