Thursday September 14, 2023

Today is Thursday, September 14 and we are exploring what the Bible says about life together in the Body of Christ.

As a new day dawns, I seek God first. I slow down and pause to focus on his loving presence. I inhale his goodness and peace and exhale any worries or concerns. I leave my burdens to rest in his strong hands.

Pause and Pray

Blessed Lord, you are King of my heart and Shepherd of my soul. Walk with me on today’s journey. Lead me to green pastures and still waters. Guide me in paths of righteousness and fill the cup of my heart with your goodness. Amen.

I rejoice in God’s love for me and praise him with the words of Psalm 139.

My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed. Psalm 139:15-16

Pause and Pray

Paul beseeched the fledgling Christian community at Ephesus to walk worthy of the calling to which they were called (Ephesians 4:1). Then as today, he challenges believers to live a life in which we walk like Jesus walked. We walk together, we do not walk alone. This “community walking” gives the Body of Christ stability and strength. Christians need each other to mature in the faith and grow in holiness. We become our true selves in relation to other people in the Body of Christ. We become who we are together as we are built up in love. The whole community grows strong in Christ and learns to walk like Christ.

He himself granted that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love. Ephesians 4:11-16

Christians are to use the gifts they have been given to build up the Body of Christ so that we can all reach maturity in Christ together. Believers are meant to share their gifts and labor together for the good of the church. When we all utilize our God-given gifts and work in harmony with others, individuals and the church grow in holiness. We attain to the whole measure of the fullness of Jesus Christ. We walk in the way Jesus walked. That is the goal worth constantly striving to attain. That is the grand design for God’s church and why God gave the Holy Spirit and the Spirit’s gifts.

Ask: Am I cognizant of my God-given gifts? Am I using my gifts to build up the Body of Christ, his church?

Pause and Pray

Holy and loving God, thank you for equipping me to work for your kingdom and build up the Body of Christ. Thank you for my church home. Let it be a place of blessing for me and others. Fully engage me in the life of my church. Work through each person. Enable us to grow strong, mature in the faith, and progress in holiness of heart and life. Grow us up in every way. Join and knit us together and bind us in your love. I read the words from Ephesians again and listen for the message you have for me.

He himself granted that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love. Ephesians 4:11-16

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

God wants to speak to me this week about my particular role in the community of faith. I consider how God has especially equipped me to serve my church at this age and stage. How am I to apply myself for God? Perhaps I am to build up the Body of Christ, strive for unity of faith, increase knowledge, make mature disciples, speak the truth in love, stand firm on doctrine or correct false teaching. Whatever word or phrase that stands out to me today, I ponder how it applies to my current church home, the relationships I have and the role I am to play.

Pause and Pray

Come, Holy Spirit, and shine your light on my community of faith. I lift up every member of my church to you. I invite your good winds to blow through the hearts of every believer. Energize our fellowship, empower our service, inspire our leadership, strengthen our teaching, sanctify our worship and multiply our love. Amen.

I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg 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, making every effort 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 of your calling. Ephesians 4:1-4

I leave this time of prayer rejoicing to be a part of the Body of Christ. I go to love and serve my brothers and sisters in the faith.

Amen