May 17 Growing Up

Ephesians 4:11-14 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 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, 14 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.
 
IT is important to grow up, isn’t it? I think we adults have alll been told at some point to, “Grow up!” Perhaps our parents, teachers or older siblings were tired of our childish ways. They wanted us to learn more about being an adult, so we could be more mature in our relationships with them. As parents, too, we are eager for the day our children will grow up into lessons we teach them, so all of our family will live more in unity and peace, likeminded in our household.
    That is the picture Paul gives to us here. As he has been writing of Jesus’ gifts coming into the church, he focuses now on the gifts designed to teach God’s Word to the church. Apostles, pastors, evangelists, prophets and teachers are men and women focused on revealing the Father’s truth to his children. These gifts of revelation are the means of building Jesus’ church into one body with one faith and one hope.
    What causes division in a family? Of course, it is family members refusing to grow up into unity with others. Prideful selfishness, unwilling to say, “I will cooperate; I will love; I will be humble before others.” creates continual strife in our families, cities, churches and nations.
    There is one truth for the church to know. He is Jesus. We must be willing to grow up into Jesus, to know his commands, his teachings, his sacrifice and his grace, so we will stand as one body, testifying to the world of the one gospel truth.
 
Prayer: Lord God, mature me more and more into your truth. Teach me to listen carefully to your teachers, apostles, preachers and evangelists that I will grow up into your faith. In the Spirit’s power I pray, amen.