Ephesians 4.11-16 (1)
Pray Psalm 46.10, 11.
Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Selah
Sing Psalm 46.10, 11.
(St. Chrysostom: We Have Not Known Thee As We Ought)
Rest in the LORD and be at peace, all who are mired in sore travail.
Lift up our God, praise Jesus our Lord; proclaim to all the earth His Word!
God is our stronghold, never to fail; thus may our hope and joy increase!
Read Ephesians 4.11-16; meditate on verse 15.
Review the various ways you have been growing up in the Lord. Thank Him.
Preparation
1. To what should we be growing up?
2. Why?
Meditation
We begin this week’s study at the end of our passage because it connects so well with the previous passage, Ephesians 4.1-10. Once again, the objective is Christlikeness, individually and corporately.
That is, each of us can “grow up” into Jesus, so that we are more like Him every day. And our churches can “grow up” into Him so that they look more like His Body, like what He would look like and be doing if He were in our community.
So again, Paul points us to Jesus as he explains the process Jesus has established for helping us and our churches “grow up in all things into Him” (verses 11, 12). If we are growing into Him in all things—all our relationships, roles, and responsibilities, and, at the church level, all our worship, outreach, pastoral ministries, and everything else—then Jesus will fill us and the spaces of our lives and the works our church sponsors, just as we saw from verse 10 was His intention.
The key to Jesus filling all things is located in our passage for this week. If we embrace the Lord’s process we will realize the Lord’s end. And the more progress we make toward that end—individually and corporately—the more Jesus will fill us and overflow from us to refresh, renew, and restore our world (Jn. 7.37-39).
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
To be like Jesus is the point, the goal, and the purpose of all things.
It is our vocation. Our profession. Our calling.
Paul wrote that we “should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, [we should] grow up in all things into Him Who is the head—Christ…” (Eph. 4.14, 15).
We do not want to be known, as Jehoash the king was, who: “did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him” (2 Kgs. 12.2). But then all bets were off? Unless the priest was holding his hand and telling him what to do, he had no concept of right and wrong? Do we want to be that person? I think not. We want to grow up in the Lord and in the knowledge of His Word. Daily striving to know more of Him, to be more like Him. And this we can and will learn through studying His Word, through prayer, and through being in His Presence moment by moment, day by day.
We long to be useful vessels of His Spirit—as Paul himself became.
As the Lord Jesus said to Ananias, who understandably was resistant to ministering to the trouble-maker-Christian-murderer Saul: “Go” [speak to him, teach him, minister to him, love him], “for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My Name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My Name’s sake” (Acts 9.15, 16). Learning to be like Jesus (1 Cor. 11.1).
We too have been bought, by the blood of Christ; changed through His Holy Spirit; and strengthened as chosen vessels—to grow up into Him—to do works of ministry. And suffer for His Name’s sake.
This life is our calling—our vocation.
This is the goal we have for ourself, our spouse, our children, our fellow-believers, and our neighbors, who so desperately need help of body and soul—to know Jesus and be filled to the full with Him.
Always speaking, and being, the truth of God, in love. All grown up.
Reflection
1. How would you explain the idea of “calling” to a new believer?
2. What different kinds of work make up your calling as a Christian?
3. Our calling is “learning to be like Jesus.” How can you keep this from becoming merely a niche in your life?
God’s children are growing, as long as they are in this world; and the Christian’s growth tends to the glory of Christ. The more a man finds himself drawn out to improve in his station, and according to his measure, all that he has received, to the spiritual good of others, he may the more certainly believe that he has the grace of sincere love and charity rooted in his heart. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Ephesians 4.15
Pray Psalm 46.1-9.
How will the joy of God’s grace gladden the people you meet today? Commit your day to the Lord. Rest in Him and His strength. Pray that He will show “His infinite worth” through you in everything you do today.
Sing Psalm 46.1-9.
(St. Chrysostom: We Have Not Known Thee As We Ought)
God is our refuge and our strength; He is our help in times of need.
Thus though the earth beneath us should change, the sea engulf the mountain range.
Waters may roar with raging speed; yet God will rescue us at length.
God’s everlasting, joyous grace gladdens the city where He dwells.
Safely in Him, we will not be moved; when morning dawns, His love will be proved.
Fears and distresses Jesus dispels for His beloved, chosen race.
Kingdoms arise and rage and roar, threat’ning the earth with sore distress.
Nations may fall, earth melt away, His Word is yet our hope and stay.
God is among us, ever to bless; He is our stronghold evermore.
Come see the works of God’s Right Hand! He breaks the nations of the earth,
shatters their foolish weapons and pride, sets all their sinful strength aside.
Them He will show His infinite worth as they before His judgment stand.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: In our ReVision series on “The Kingdom Economy” we continue looking at what the Scriptures say about justice. Our Read Moore podcast considers three brief books that could change your life, beginning with The Gospel of the Kingdom. Our Crosfigell teaching letter continues our study of the life of Brigit, a contemporary of Brendan. Click hereto see all the other columns and writers available to you.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
