Gleanings for August 31

We need to keep on Learning

Ephesians 4: 5 – 16 will be verses we comment on today, some of them will be printed, but I encourage you to read the whole chapter for yourself.

Ephesians 4: 5 & 6 LBT: “For us there is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and we all have the same God and Father Who is over us all and in us all, and living through every part of us.”

Once again the Apostle Paul is showing us the unity we have as we allow Jesus to be Lord of our lives. But he goes on to tell us more:

Verses 7 and 8 (same translation) “However, Christ has given each of us special abilities---whatever He wants us to have out of His rich storehouse of Gifts.

The Psalmist tells about this, for he says that when Christ returned triumphantly to heaven after His resurrection and victory over Satan, He (Jesus) gave generous gifts to all.”

The following verses tell how Jesus had to experience death itself (actually, He experienced death for US) so He could be “raised triumphantly” and lead those who were “in captivity of death” into the heavenly realm.

The Gifts listed in verse 11 are for a specific purpose as verses 12 and 13 indicate: (NKJV):

“For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man (person), to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

Notice the results: Verses 14 &15: “That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine…

But speaking the truth in love may grow up in ALL THINGS into HIM Who is the Head—CHRIST.”

Then, Verse 16 from the Living Bible: “Under His direction the whole body is fitted together perfectly, and each part in its own special way helps the other parts; so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”

Yesterday we talked about “growing up”—“maturing”. These verses again tell us how important it is for us to keep on learning more and then obeying the things that we know are right for us to do. As we bring our children to church and Sunday School we trust they are learning these things early in life. Obedience is a big part of the learning process.

I trust you are receiving help from “the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers” that are a part of your life. (See verse 11) They are meant to be “God’s Gifts” to the body of Christ to help “build us up” in the knowledge we need in order to live a fruitful life, and also that we will know:

THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH!