Maturity

Our Monday morning study is taking us to chapter 4 of Ephesians,verses 12-16. What does Paul say about becoming mature and reaching a level of unity in the community of believers? We are to build up the body, “until we all reach unity in the faith … and become mature” (v. 13). The first ministry of believers is to other believers.

It is vital that we “grow up into Him” if we are to be a valid expression of Jesus in this world. The whole body “grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (v. 16).
This is sometimes hard to accept. We look at the world and are burdened by the need for evangelism. We look at the poor and are burdened by the need to establish justice. We look at the suffering and are impelled to comfort and to care. So sometimes we slip into the trap of organizing the local church to undertake one or more of these tasks. We program evangelistic efforts and buy more buses. We commit ourselves to an active social welfare involvement. All too often we lose sight of the fact that the first function of the body is to build itself.

So, maturing within the body, growing more and more like Jesus, is the believer’s first calling. To equip the church for service, believers must minister to one another and to the world.
I think this focus on building one another up is essential. Only as we grow toward maturity together can we respond fully to Jesus as He directs us to serve in the world.

It is also talking about this very thing in Deuteronomy 6:5-7. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." We are to teach the gospel tirelessly to every opportunity that we are given. We should be totally exhausted at the end of the day sharing our faith if we heed these verses in Deuteronomy. Let's get it right as to how we are to become mature ministers in Christ.
Be BOLD for Christ!