Daily Manna 27 June
KEY VERSE: “That we henceforth are no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” – (Ephesians 4:14).
TEXT: Ephesians 4:11-16
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.
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
A child was taken to the family garden by her grandfather to plant some apple seeds. Once in the field, she was given some seeds to plant as many trees as she could. After planting about twenty-two seeds, grandfather announced it was time to go home. Work was done for the day. Every day, the child would return to water the seeds. But before doing so, she would dig up the seedlings to check how far they were growing underneath the ground.
After some time, all the seeds died. One can only imagine the numbers of apples and apple trees they would have had! The Lord Jesus had earlier likened His death and resurrection as the planting and reaping of a corn of wheat. And Paul, the apostle, alluding to that truth, revealed that the ministerial gifts were part of the harvest of resurrection. He further uncovered that these gifts were given with a purpose to perfect God’s people. We are not given gifts for personal aggrandizement.
Our talents are for the building up of the entire body of Christ; so that believers can be rooted in the likeness of God. Thus, the evangelists or teachers in our local assemblies are meant to exhort and establish believers in the pure doctrines of God’s word. Just as it is in the physical, spiritual babes who deliberately refuse the nourishment from God’s word, are usually identified by their unstable walk and beliefs.
Although they have been in the Church for many years, they live as if they have never encountered Christ. Until we are planted, watered and grounded in the faith, we can never be of any real use to God. God calls us into spiritual maturity and moral perfection. We must grow up into the fullness of Christ in all things. Until the word and doctrines of Christ affect and direct our everyday living, we are yet spiritually immature.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Whilst moral perfection is the goal, Christ remains our Standard.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Kings 15-16
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna –Grow Up! – by Pastor Enoch A.
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Daily Manna 27 June 2021
