This devotional is part of a five day reflection on calling within the church.
Many of us need some noise. Consider using this curated playlist of meditative songs as background.
Pause
Take a few moments to breathe. Set down your phone, remove distractions. Allow yourself to become present in this moment with the Spirit of God.
Lord, I calm myself before you, eager to be built up, eager to grow, and eager to be lead by you.
Reflect
Today’s reading is Ephesians 4:1-16. Read this passage and underline the words that stick out to you as you read through the lens of leading Christians toward the gospel in formation, community, and mission. Take notes.
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”
(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his 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.
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. 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. 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.
This is one of those passages where you find the key greek word, soma. This the greek word is used throughout the New Testament for body, particularly used to describe the church. Soma is used to describe two fundamental aspects of the church:
The Church as the incarnation of Jesus. Meaning, the Church collectively displays the good news of Jesus in our world.
The Church as an interconnected and interdependent community. Meaning, each person in the church is connected and dependent on the others. Likewise, each person contributes and is crucial to the thriving of others.
Paul purposefully chose this word throughout his writings because it captures who we are as the Church: not just a group of people that meet regularly, but a present and unified family displaying the good news of Jesus in the places God has sent us throughout the world.
Ask
Spend time praying for the church, Soma.
Spirit, would you unify the church and every missional community around who you are and what you’ve done? May we see ourselves as interconnected and interdependent. May everyone know they are a crucial gift to the body.
Jesus, would you establish each missional community to be solid, faithful, and speaking the truth in love? May each person grow up in that love!
Yield
At the end of today’s passage, the Apostle Paul writes:
“From [Jesus] the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Spend a few minutes considering your willingness to play your role within the body.
Spirit, I’m willing to play my role, to use my gifts, my time, my resources. Would you lead me in knowing my role?