[1] "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."
[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."
I was aware in reading these familiar verses this morning, that at least in the NIV translation, Jesus gave the five-fold ministries to the Body of Christ, to equip His people (His sons and daughters). Sometimes we get all caught up in the gifts of certain people, but they were given to us all, not for us to be in awe of them, but so that they can help us mature. Those who operate in these gifts are supposed to build up the Body of Christ. Think of them as personal trainers in the ways of the Spirit!
I am reminded of some verses in Ezekiel 34, where the Lord is speaking about the shepherds, and how they have not done a good job shepherding his people (his flock). Several years ago the Lord took me to this passage and asked me where He placed the most value, in the shepherds or in the sheep? The answer is quite simple, the sheep of His flock are what's valuable! In the same way, when we look at these verses from Ephesians, we can think that the Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers are those that are most valuable, but in the same way as the shepherds serve the sheep, they are supposed to serve the Body of Christ, being responsible for the leading, guiding, and enabled the maturing and building up of the Body of Christ.
If we go back to the beginning of this chapter, Paul is speaking about unity in the Body of Christ. His focus is on all of the members, not just on the leaders. His desire is that they learn to operate in humility, gentleness, patience, love and peace. They are called to embrace one hope, one faith and one baptism in proclaiming their faith! The giving of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers is to enable and make way for this unity and way of life. These really are shepherding gifts, and as such, me must remember that the value in the Lord's eyes is on all His sons and daughters, not just the few that are called to serve the Body in these particular ministries.
Lord, I thank You for Your wisdom, and Your gifts that You have given to us. We understand that if we are in the Body of Christ, then these are the gifts that You have given us to help us mature and reach unity in faith. We call for You to give these gifts in abundance that we all might be built-up!
Amen!
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