Meditation

Hi there,

Yesterday we thought about our call to unity that reflects a walk worthy of our calling in Christ.

In today’s section (verses 7–10), Paul points to Christ’s ascendancy, using military language the Ephesians would have recognized. When a general returned victorious, he displayed the spoils and distributed them as he saw fit.

In the same way, Jesus descended to the grave, defeated sin and death, and then ascended in triumph. Out of His victory He gives gifts, not merit badges, but measures of grace to equip His people.

These gifts are for His purposes and mission, not our own.

For any unit to function—whether military, law enforcement, or any vital mission, unity and giftedness are essential. God calls His church to the same: working together on His mission with what He has given, equipped for the task until He returns

Today's verses are Ephesians 4:7-10 (and are marked in black. Previous and subsequent verses are shown in grey for context).

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

⁷ But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. ⁸ This is why it says:

“When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”

⁹ (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions ¹⁰ He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)

¹¹ So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.

¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Encouragement

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.

If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4:10-11

While you write today, why not consider the gifts you have and how you can use them in unified mission with other believers.

Steve Pawley

God's word in your hand

I've attached this explanation of Ephesians from The Bible Project to accompany this season's copy work.

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