Today's Verses: Ephesians 4:11-13 (ESV)
11 And [m]he gave the [n]apostles, the prophets, the [o]evangelists, the [p]shepherds[2] and teachers,[3] 12 [q]to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for [r]building up [s]the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to [t]the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, [u]to mature manhood,[4] to the measure of the stature of [v]the fullness of Christ,
m [1 Cor. 12:5, 6]
n See 1 Cor. 12:28
o Acts 21:8; 2 Tim. 4:5
p Jer. 3:15; [Acts 20:28]
2 Or pastors
3 Or the shepherd-teachers
q See 2 Cor. 13:9
r ver. 16, 29
s See 1 Cor. 12:27
t [ver. 5]
u Heb. 5:14
4 Greek to a full-grown man
v ch. 1:23
Paul stresses the concept of unity. We are one with our brothers and sisters, as we are one with Jesus Christ. Each of us has our own part in supporting the body of Christ, His church. Each of us is essential, and each of us is instrumental in our corporate development of Christian maturity.
Hymn of the Day: WE ARE CLIMBING JACOB’S LADDER -
Negro Spiritual
This hymn gives us a picture of climbing higher and higher as we strive for maturity in our Christian life. The more we move upward in our maturity, the closer we come to Him and being Christlike in our behavior.
We are climbing Jacob’s ladder;
we are climbing Jacob’s ladder;
we are climbing Jacob’s ladder,
soldiers of the cross.
Sinner, do you love my Jesus?
Sinner, do you love my Jesus?
Sinner, do you love my Jesus?
soldiers of the cross.
If you love Him, why not serve Him?
If you love Him, why not serve Him?
If you love Him why not serve Him?
soldiers of the cross.
We are climbing higher, higher;
we are climbing higher, higher;
we are climbing higher, higher,
soldiers of the cross.
Osbeck, Kenneth W.: Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Kregel Publications, 1990, S. 97
Today's Comments: Paul reminds us that the Church is the body of Christ and God's representative to the world. We are to reject all corruption of the body and grow in righteousness and holiness. To equip us, God gives each of us gifts so that we may help prepare ourselves and others for ministry. In other words, we are all ministers who are called upon to use our gifts and talents so that we, as the body of Christ, may mature in our faith and grow in our righteousness.
11 And [m]he gave the [n]apostles, the prophets, the [o]evangelists, the [p]shepherds[2] and teachers,[3] 12 [q]to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for [r]building up [s]the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to [t]the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, [u]to mature manhood,[4] to the measure of the stature of [v]the fullness of Christ,
m [1 Cor. 12:5, 6]
n See 1 Cor. 12:28
o Acts 21:8; 2 Tim. 4:5
p Jer. 3:15; [Acts 20:28]
2 Or pastors
3 Or the shepherd-teachers
q See 2 Cor. 13:9
r ver. 16, 29
s See 1 Cor. 12:27
t [ver. 5]
u Heb. 5:14
4 Greek to a full-grown man
v ch. 1:23
Paul stresses the concept of unity. We are one with our brothers and sisters, as we are one with Jesus Christ. Each of us has our own part in supporting the body of Christ, His church. Each of us is essential, and each of us is instrumental in our corporate development of Christian maturity.
Hymn of the Day: WE ARE CLIMBING JACOB’S LADDER -
Negro Spiritual
This hymn gives us a picture of climbing higher and higher as we strive for maturity in our Christian life. The more we move upward in our maturity, the closer we come to Him and being Christlike in our behavior.
We are climbing Jacob’s ladder;
we are climbing Jacob’s ladder;
we are climbing Jacob’s ladder,
soldiers of the cross.
Sinner, do you love my Jesus?
Sinner, do you love my Jesus?
Sinner, do you love my Jesus?
soldiers of the cross.
If you love Him, why not serve Him?
If you love Him, why not serve Him?
If you love Him why not serve Him?
soldiers of the cross.
We are climbing higher, higher;
we are climbing higher, higher;
we are climbing higher, higher,
soldiers of the cross.
Osbeck, Kenneth W.: Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Kregel Publications, 1990, S. 97
Today's Comments: Paul reminds us that the Church is the body of Christ and God's representative to the world. We are to reject all corruption of the body and grow in righteousness and holiness. To equip us, God gives each of us gifts so that we may help prepare ourselves and others for ministry. In other words, we are all ministers who are called upon to use our gifts and talents so that we, as the body of Christ, may mature in our faith and grow in our righteousness.
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