By Emily Wooten
Read Ephesians 4:7-15
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
God gave ministry gifts so the body of Christ would be built up, edified and grow up.
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Paul wrote we should no longer be children tossed by every wind of doctrine.
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ…
Jesus is our example; the measure we aim for. Paul would not have written that we should grow up, if it was not possible. If it was not possible to be perfect or complete, (whole, lacking nothing) God would not have required that. But it is possible and he does require that.
Spiritual maturity has little to do with chronological growth or maturity.
A human isn’t born an adult physically. Neither is a newborn Christian mature spiritually the moment they receive Christ. Maturity involves learning, practicing and experiencing. We develop as we try to do what we have learned.
Psalms 8:1-2 O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
Even babies can learn to speak the truth in love and as we do, we grow. Because we learn to understand how awesome our God is, we learn to accept how excellent he can be in and working through us.
1 Peter 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew (avoid) evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. (ensue is to make it happen)
Ephesians 3:16-19 That God would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Weekly Confession: Thank you Father! I am being filled with all the fulness of God. Every day I grow stronger, smarter and speak the truth in love.
Learn Love Live