READING: Eph. 4:15,16: but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Christ desires the building up of His body. He wants us, as His church, not to remain in a childish state susceptible to drifting away, but to become “mature man” (vs. 13).
This means knowing Him with a firm faith, understanding, loving, and serving Him according to the truth of His Word. This will also produce mutual love among us.
Christ causes us to grow in faith as a church through the ministry of office bearers given by Him. This faith then increasingly focuses on Him as the Head of the church.
Paul elaborates this using the metaphor of a body, where different organs and limbs each have their own place. They are held together and coordinated. Each part of the body has a role, sometimes very different. Yet the body functions as a whole. This is true in a human body and should also be the case in the church.
Christ Himself ensures that each member contributes to the coherence of the whole in their own way and with their own abilities. All members, however different, fit together and are interconnected. Thus, love, harmony, and peace prevail in the church.
On one hand, all these gifts come from Christ, encouraged by His office bearers. On the other hand, His church grows through these gifts and relationships, moving together towards Christ.
Faith working through love is strengthened, making more love visible among us and towards Christ. Thus, there is peace in the church.
A wonderful task for us all!
What do you contribute to the mutual unity?
Singing: Ps. 122:1