Growing in Every Way, Becoming Increasingly Like Christ

Eph. 4:14-16    

     14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.  15 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.  16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Paul was telling the church members at Ephesus, and us as well, about the gifts (vv 11-13) that Christ has given the church. These gifts consist of roles that He equips various of us to fulfill and serve our local body of believers-- where He has planted us, that is. When we do this, we, and our fellow Christ followers can mature in our faith. Our maturity protects us from deception. Our maturity in Christ is lead by and empowered by the Holy Spirit of God who co-exists within our new nature. We can discern truth from lie. We exercise truth in the way God created us to do-- with unconditional love. The more we yield ourselves to doing so, the more we grow into the very nature that is Christ's nature. The more we exercise His nature the more He will fit us together perfectly. The more we fit together, the more effectively we each do our assigned work in the body. The more effectively we do our body-work then the more the Body of Christ grows because others will be attracted to Him.

What are you doing today? Is it exemplifying the new nature that Christ places within all who trust in Him? Is it exercising mutual unity with other believers where God has planted you? Is it filling you with complete peace and Confidence in the Lord, regardless of what challenges may be approaching you? If you will permit it to, it will cause you to grow increasingly to be like Christ.

Your Servant in Christ's Love
Dan
drdanelliott@gmail.com