The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Ephesians 4:11-13,
"It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 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."
Paul speaks of the "whole measure of the fullness of Christ" as something we attain to as we are built up by those the Lord himself has gifted to accomplish just such a work in our lives. In the previous chapter Paul speaks of the possibility of believers being "filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." 3:19. There he says it is had by a strengthening of our hearts by God in order that we attain the power to grasp the full dimension of the love of Jesus Christ.
As new believers in Jesus Christ we have some things to look forward to, things that are not given us "up front" when we become his children. These are things that are had by effort made. In the chapter 3 passage, it takes power from God that is apparently tapped into through prayer, as Paul demonstrates through his prayer. In the chapter 4 passage, maturing is something that is attained to, something reached only by effort made, both by gifted ones the Lord provides in our lives as well as our own efforts.
Just when is it we arrive at this kind of maturity? When do we finally graduate from this process? I have met some wonderful believers who have matured in the Lord, but I have never met anyone yet of whom I would say has attained "to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" or "filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Although they have certainly developed a level of spiritual maturity in their lives, these descriptions indicate there is always room in our lives for further growth. I am certain that it will not be until the resurrection, the moment when we will be changed, "in the twinkling of an eye" that we arrive at this complete fullness of Jesus Christ, this fullness of God that Paul speaks of here.
Until then we all have purpose and meaning in life as we pursue a maturity that the Lord himself has provided us to attain. I can think of no greater pursuit than that of growing in our maturity in the Lord! I find it wonderful that he has this for us to work toward.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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