Five Simple Words

I've been reading Ephesians lately because that's the book we are going to be taking the youth through this school year. My oh my is there such goodness in this book! Today I was struck again by the simple conviction of the Holy Spirit. Read on with me~

"But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 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.

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 men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into 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."

Ephesians 4:7-16

These verses are so powerful and so rich. There is so much about unity in the body of Christ and how important it is. "So that the body of Christ may be built up...until we all reach unity in the faith...from Him the whole body, joined and held together..."

I've been in the church my entire life and sadly, I have seen many times where this unity in the body of Christ has not been the case. It doesn't just happen in church, but also at camps, in retreat planning, etc. etc. especially when you are in a leadership role.

This is why it is so important for us to be in God's word daily, to leave our messes-our ideas, thoughts on how things should be or shouldn't be, etc.-and to pick up God's cross and carry it with humility and grace into whatever situation.

"Speaking the truth in love"

And what happens when we are hurt or feel like something needs to be exposed or just that someone is acting foolishly or selfishly?!? Here it is, in all God's wisdom-simply, to "speak the truth in love." Are you shocked that it doesn't say, "go talk to your friend about how annoyed you are about it?" or "laugh about it behind that person's back or be secretly disgusted at that person for some reason?" I think this is one of the most difficult things to do...and it's only five words long! Hah. 

I'm trying. To keep the unity, to put aside my own feelings for the sake of Christ's gospel and peace, to speak the truth in love on a daily basis so that things aren't fake but are real and growing in every relationship that I have.

Let's not be infants people! It's just so not worth it ;D

Aim