Above Only Daily Devotional http://cgmglobal.org/aboveonly Saturday, FEBRUARY 3 Growing into Christ's Fullness Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV)

Above Only Daily Devotional
http://cgmglobal.org/aboveonly

Saturday, FEBRUARY 3

Growing into Christ's Fullness

Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV)
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. 

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God wants us to elevate our understanding of the purpose of the church. As we see in our text above, one of the major assignments that God expects to be taking place in the church is our preparation for works of service. Of course, we are to be ministered to, but we are also to be trained on how to be ministers. In the same way Jesus required a body to function and do God's work on this earth, you and I are the body of Christ so that we can carry on the works of Christ on earth. This experience is very important if we are going to become mature and attain the fullness of the stature of Christ. We must remember that God's utmost desire for us is that we conform to Christ's image, particularly in our souls. We are already one with Him in Spirit (1Cor.6:17) and we will be like Him (physically) when He returns (1John 3:2).

Right now, by the Spirit of God (2Cor.3:18) and the Word of God (especially by the revelation of Christ), we are being transformed in our souls (James 1:21) into Christ's image. God's desire for us is that we will aspire to serve His purpose which relates to influencing and touching the lives of men in the same way Christ would if He were in our shoes. God wants to use us to touch and bless lives, just as He used Christ when Christ was on the earth. This is why Jesus assured us that we would do the works that He did and even greater works, John 14:12. As we grow and become more like Christ on the inside, God will use us more and more to serve, touch and bless lives the same way Christ did.

PRAYER FOCUS: Ask God to transform you and other believers more and more on the inside so that you would be more like Christ. Ask Him to use you to serve and touch the lives of others just like Christ.

BIBLE IN A YEAR READING PLAN: EXODUS 31-33; MATTHEW 22:1-22

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