Ephesians 4:11-16

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;”

Each person in God’s Kingdom has a unique role, purpose and mission that is different from everyone else’s. None more or less important.

But each of those roles is meant to collectively equip and build up the Body.

“13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”

The goal is maturity and fullness in Yeshua’s likeness for the entire Body.

“14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;”

In order for that to happen, we need to stop being swayed and distracted by life and all of the specific aspects of it.

Our nature is to be swayed and distracted, so we shouldn’t get too down on ourselves or blame ourselves.

But how do we stop being swayed?

“15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,”

Our entire lives should be honoring to God with the purpose of building up His Kingdom;

“16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”

When we’re seeking to honor God with every specific part of our life, it causes the growth of the Body.

The caveat is that too many people seek to build up their own lives for God (which is good) but do so at the expense of allowing it to bless the whole Body.

“12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.”

We need to hope, trust and rejoice that we will continue to grow and that one day, we will know Him fully just as He knows us fully now.