Ephesians 4:7-13

 7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8This is
why it says:
 “When he ascended on high,
 he led captives in his train
 and gave gifts to men.” 9(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also
descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10He who descended is the very one
who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be
evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God’s people for
works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until 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.

Meditation
1. This list of gifts is by no means exhaustive. Similar lists appear in Paul’s other
letters. Here, he says that the purpose of these gifts is “to train (prepare…
for work) Christ’s followers, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (v12).
The Spirit gives gifts to us so that, by all of us exercising these gifts, we will
build each other up to be more and more like Christ.
2. What gifts has God given me? How am I using them? Are they for mending,
setting right, or putting together in the body of Christ?
3. Thank God for the gifts he’s given me and other members of the church. Pray
that I will do my part to help build up the church.

Personal Note:
God has given me gifts of servanthood, pastoring, and encouragement.  I am using them by serving and encouraging the young friends whom God entrusted to me to become closer to Jesus Christ.  I pray that I will be faithful in doing my part for the church.

Ephesians 3:14-21

14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in
heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he
may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that
Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted
and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp
how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this
love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the
fullness of God. 20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all
we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be
glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and
ever! Amen.

Meditation
1. The “love” Paul spoke of here isn’t the love of God, or love for God. His
theme was family love –love for one another in Christ. Paul earnestly desired
that God’s people be “rooted and established in love” in order that we have
power “together with all the saints” to grasp and know the love of Christ
(vv18-19). How can we grasp or understand love? In the context of the
family that loves and cherishes, that nurtures and supports, that cares and
shares, we are to learn by experience the width and length and height and
depth of the love of Christ.
2. “Christ has no body now on earth but yours;
 Yours are the only hands with which He can do His work,
 Yours are the only feet with which He can go about the world,
Yours are the only eyes through which His compassion can shine forth upon
a troubled world,
 Christ has no body now on earth but yours” – Teresa of Avila
3. The mark of a truly spiritual church is still, “See how they love one another.”
With this passage in mind, pray for my church that we, as a church family,
may bear the mark of “loving one another” and may experience deeply the
love of Christ.

Personal Note:
The ultimate goal and purpose of life is to live for the glory of God.  God is glorified when we respond to the love that He has for us.  Our response to God's love is visible through the love and care for one another in Christ.  What really attract people to faith is not fun programs or entertainment.  The love people experienced in the body of Christ is what attract people to faith.  We are reminded that we are the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.