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Together in Christ: 'Healthy, Growing, and Full of Love' — Ephesians 4:14-16 Wednesday, May 8, 2024 [When we use our spiritual gifts to equip and encourage each other,] we will no longer be immature like children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. — Ephesians 4:14-16 NLT Key Thought The first part of Ephesians 4 strongly emphasizes unity in doctrine, spirit, and ministry. [1] When the church functions well as the body of Christ, God's people will no longer be immature and tricked by clever lies that distort the truth about Jesus. The people of this kind of congregation will have unity in doctrine, spirit, and ministry. They will be more loving towards each other as they touch the world as the bodily presence of Jesus with His grace. They become a church family we all want to experience, a church that is "healthy and growing and full of love." The cross of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit transformed the messy, selfish, divided church of 1 Corinthians into a loving, serving, and sacrificial church. So, why can't our churches experience such a transformation? The answer is that they can! Let's pray, serve, use our gifts, and work to make it happen! [1] Ephesians 4:1-13. TODAY'S PRAYER Almighty God, You created the universe, delivered Israel from Egypt, and sent Your servant Jesus to redeem us. Thank You for being such an awesome God! In response to Your grace, I will live with love toward my brothers and sisters, strive for unity among my fellow believers, and bless others using the gifts You have lavished on me. I pray for peace and love to transform our hearts in Your family, O God. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. RELATED SCRIPTURE READINGS Romans 12:3-12 1 Peter 4:7-11