The Body of ChristSample

Together. Not Alone.

All of us can get a little obsessed with knowing what our gifts are and what God has called us to do. As we seek answers, the first part of this Ephesians passage may leave us deflated or confused. What if my abilities and opportunities give absolutely no indication that Jesus has picked me to be a pastor, teacher, evangelist and so on? 

Instead of dwelling on the few roles outlined in the first part of this epic sentence, keep reading. Turns out those particular roles have been given to ‘equip his people for works of service’. Wonderfully, this is talking about you, me and anyone else who follows Jesus. Christian leaders are selected to nurture every single one of Christ’s people for the important and shared task of Spirit-filled service. 

It gets better, though. This passage refers to Jesus’ people – God’s people – as the body of Christ. Wow. While you take in the magnificence of that bond, check out the reason all the individual parts of the body of Christ do their works of service. It is to build up our unity of faith and knowledge of God’s saving Son. Together. Not alone. 

I love the promised hope here of uniting with my brothers and sisters in Christ so we all mature to be more and more like Jesus. My own part in that matters much less than the goal of growing in Jesus together.

Written by BEN MCEACHEN