Dear Friends,

This month we come to Ephesians 4:7-16 in our sermon series, the passage which talks about Christians as the Body of Christ and tells us the various roles available to each one of us in that body:

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… and 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.

What we tend to do with this passage is determined by how we see ourselves. We might say, "Oh, I'm definitely a teacher! No way could I be a prophet or a pastor!" Or we say, "I don't see myself on that list at all! Where do I fit in to this Body of Christ?" We limit ourselves and we limit God when we think like that. Perhaps we need to look at this passage in a slightly different way. What if we looked at it as God calling us to be a pastor or a prophet or an apostle for a specific time or place-not all the time, but just in that moment? What if God needed us to do the specific job those people do-comfort someone in grief, speak up at a meeting because you felt God nudge you to say something, talk to a friend about Jesus Christ and what He's done in your life-what would you do? Chances are good that at some time in each of our lives, God has asked us to be a prophet, an evangelist, a preacher and a teacher. And as bearers of His light, we're all called to be His apostles. We just need to keep our hearts and ears attuned to Him and His direction. And we need to keep Paul's words in verse 15 in our hearts, as well: …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, knit and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does it work. The Body of Christ is only as effective as its parts-each one of us needs to do our part and be our part, so that Christ's body, the church, can be all that God intended it to be-a beacon, a light, a safe haven in our world.
And if it seems like it's too big a task, remember these words from Isaiah 40:28-31: Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope and wait in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

All God's blessings as you seek to serve Him,

Rev. Karen Gallagher