Built Up In Love

This morning I am continuing my reading of Paul's letter to the Ephesians. What a great letter! Anyway, I am struck anew by the way the Lord builds His church, and brings it to maturity:

Ephesians 4:11-16 NIV
[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.

[14] 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. [15] 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. [16] 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."

We are meant to be equipped by Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to do works of service to aid in the building of the church. Maturity in the church looks like unity in the faith, knowledge of Jesus, and being like Him. Maturity allows us to be stable in our thinking, not tossed back and forth by the newest 'teaching' or 'revelation' or 'idea' that flows through the Body of Christ. Instead, we should be known for speaking the truth IN LOVE, because love is what helps the Body grow and build itself up.

I find it interesting that speaking the truth in love is provided as a counter-point to being tossed back and forth by new teaching. It seems that the core message of love, and a motivation of love are some of the key distinguishing factors in determining what is good to listen too. Truth, coupled with love is what we need. So often we like to delivery truth coupled with judgement or warnings of dire consequences if teachings aren't followed. We call harshness hard-love. We preach messages that inspire fear of the coming judgement, yet John wrote that perfect love casts out fear (1 Jn 4:18).

We need to be known for our love for each other - that is what Jesus said (Jn 13:35} and commanded of us to do (Jn 15:17). Let us examine our lives and see whether we are building the Body up in love, whether we are loving one another, whether we are speaking truth in love, and whether we are secure in Jesus' love for us. I want to be mature in my walk, and see the Body of Christ attain to whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Amen!