November 3 | Ephesians 4:11-16
DAILY READING
REFLECTION
Attaining to the Whole Measure
By Pam Mann
Amazing. That’s what growing in the body of Christ is. It’s an adventure where we experience the faithful presence of Jesus at work in us, plus the sweet fellowship with kingdom coworkers training beside us.
Think of the various teachers, pastors, mentors, and colleagues whom God has used in your life thus far. We have already lived the reality of what Paul describes to the Ephesians! I can name many people throughout my childhood and youth who coached me in my faith walk...then even more in decades of adulthood. What about you?
Of course, not all the potential influencers in our lives have been godly. Like the folks of Paul’s day in the busy port city of Ephesus, we have encountered plenty of off-kilter ideologies. What has kept us grounded in truth? God’s Word. Privately and corporately, Jesus has kept us in the Word. Like the long-loved VBS song, we keep asking: What does God say? Sure, there are many voices pushing us away from God’s plan. However, just as muscles grow stronger with weight resistance, our faith grows stronger as we stand against the pressure of ungodly thinking.
So, here we are, saints of God, through the saving work of Christ’s blood. How do we get to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ? Is it like going to the gym? There we hear
plenty of chat about diets, workout schedules, supplements. These conversations seem like being blown here and there by every wind of teaching, that Paul condemns. Then, there is the wall with the photos of body builders who once trained at the gym. Is the body builder look our goal? No, we just want to be physically strong and healthy to do whatever God has planned for us.
Spiritually, we are the saints of God, redeemed by Christ. Physically, we commit to a healthy diet and exercise to be strong enough for what life requires. Does the spiritual future which Paul describes in Ephesians 4 require a similar commitment to diet and exercise? That spiritual diet would be regular Bible study, both personal quiet time and study with others. That spiritual exercise would be putting into practice what we read in the Bible. So... in this spiritual gym, there’s only one picture on the wall: Christ. Christ crucified, Christ risen, and Christ coming back. In this gym, all the training equipment is powered by sacrificial love. Expect a tough workout. And enjoy the company of kingdom coworkers. Together, we long for maturity, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
PRAYER
Jesus, on our own, we’re not fit for Christ body building. But You redeem us and renew us. Envelope us in the whole measure of Your fullness.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
PAM MANN
I first joined UALC when my husband (then my fiancé) and I were college students involved in youth ministry. God has used UALC to nurture our family’s faith, even in our years outside the U.S. I’ve participated in UALC ministries with kids, art, prayer, exercise, ESL, and Bible teaching. I do all the fun church things.
I love this analogy! Thank you Pam!
Now that’s a gym I would love going to! Thank you, Pam!
Thank you for the thoughtful devotion!