Ephesians 4.11-16 (6)
Pray Psalm 27.11-13.
Teach me Your way, O LORD,
And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.
Sing Psalm 27.11-13.
(St. Denio: Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise)
LORD, teach us; LORD, lead us because of our foes!
Hear, LORD, when we plead for release from their woes.
Had we not believed all Your goodness to see,
our heart sorely grieved and in turmoil would be.
Read Ephesians 4.11-16; meditate on verses14, 15.
Meditate on the phrase “grow up in all things”.
Preparation
1. Who are “children”?
2. Into what are we to “grow up”?
Meditation
Out of the unity we are realizing in Jesus, we begin the work of growing to maturity (Phil. 2.13). Paul’s comments in these verses can be seen as applying to us individually and to our churches. We must not be content to remain babes or even children in the Lord. Such are too easily blown about by the winds of our secular and materialistic age so that they never quite get their footing on the Jesus path (1 Jn. 2.1-6). They identify as Christians, but any marks of maturity are missing.
And what are those marks? Paul mentions four.
First, a discerning spirit, one rooted in God’s Word and able to recognize and resist all teachings that are contrary to Christ and His Kingdom.
Second, a readiness and a charitable spirit in speaking the truth about Jesus. Mature believers know the Lord and what they believe about Him, and they know Jesus is the best news anyone could hear. So they are ready to speak about Him and His Word, and they do so out of a heart overflowing with love.
Third, progress in faith, in growing up into Jesus—sanctification, becoming more like Jesus in every way. When people see us and our church, increasingly they are seeing Jesus.
Finally, investing whatever gifts God gives for the building-up of the body of Christ, the local church.
Mature people and mature churches bear these marks with increasing visibility and impact.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.We must be careful to observe the differentiation made between being immature “children” (Eph. 4.14) in our faith; and in having the faith of a child. “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it” (Mk. 10.15).
The story of the lad Samuel being spoken to by God is a lovely example of childlike but trusting faith.
“And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the LORD and men” (1 Sam. 2.26).
“…the LORD called Samuel. And he answered, ‘Here I am!’”
“Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, ‘Samuel!’
And Samuel answered, ‘Speak, for Your servant hears’” (1 Sam. 3.4, 10).
“Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart, and
so find favor and high esteem
in the sight of God and man” (Prov. 3.3, 4).
If we suffer from an immaturity of faith we
will be easily “tossed to and fro and
carried about with every wind of doctrine,
by the trickery of men,
in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting” (Eph. 4.14).
Paul and Silas were sent to Berea, and found there synagogue-goers who they commended for their maturity.
“These were more fair-minded (noble KJV) than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed…” (Acts 17.11).
And that is how all believers can have the faith of a child, and the maturity of a growing faith in sanctification.
“Be diligent (study KJV) to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth” (2 Tim. 2.15).
Childlike faith with all the marks of maturity.
Reflection
1. How would you explain to a new believer what it means to have childlike faith?
2. How would you encourage a fellow Christian to keep growing toward a more mature faith in the Lord?
3. What do you do to keep from slipping back into an immature faith?
There is a fullness in Christ, and a measure of that fullness given in the counsel of God to every believer; but we never come to the perfect measure till we come to heaven. God’s children are growing, as long as they are in this world; and the Christian’s growth tends to the glory of Christ. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Ephesians 4.14, 15
Pray Psalm 27.14.
Growing up into Jesus takes time. But it also requires our knowing in which areas we most need to grow. Meditate in silence on today’s text. As the Lord leads, call on Him to give you grace to grow into Jesus.
Sing Psalm 27.14.
(St. Denio: Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise)
Wait, wait on the LORD; persevere in His grace.
Hold fast to His Word; seek His radiant face.
Be strong, set your heart to abide in His Word;
His grace He imparts; therefore, wait on the LORD.
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.
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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.
