Grow Into the Full Measure of Christ
“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. 8 This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 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 all called to serve the church. The church is not merely a place where our needs are met, but a community where we share what we have received from God and serve one another. Each of us has a role, and we must take responsibility for the ministry God has entrusted to us.
But why must we live this way? Because the church is the instrument through which God makes us complete. The purpose of our salvation is to grow into the full measure of Christ, becoming mature and whole. This happens through service and unity within the church. We are interconnected members, growing together under Christ, who is our head.
Therefore, as we meditate on this truth today, let us listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit. What is the state of my heart? What ministry has God entrusted to me? Am I living in a way that builds up the church? As we pray with these questions in mind, may our devotion to the church and our faith confession grow ever richer in our lives. May God accomplish complete growth in this church and among us through our faith and service.
Prayer: Lord, we thank You for calling us as Your children and restoring us into Your image, guiding us to grow into the full measure of Christ. You have made us members of Christ’s body, nourishing us through Him and binding us together so that we may grow as one. Fill our hearts with humility, gentleness, patience, and a spirit of forgiveness, and help us serve the church faithfully. May our acts of service flourish, bringing glory to Your name. Amen.
(Note: This summary was created based on an AI draft.)