May the mumbling commence!
Love calls us to peace and faith and grace. Peace, faith and grace are gifts that require development. They require us to focus on other people… to be selfless. Yet, they are what Paul is calling the Ephesian church to do. Indeed, it is how Paul ends the letter to the Ephesians (NIV):
Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. (6:23-24)
Where do peace and faith and grace come from? They come from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ – that is the only place to put our faith. And peace is demonstrated among our Christian brothers and sisters.
Where does love come from? Love comes from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Out of that love comes grace.
In truth, we need maturity as a Christian to meet this call head on. Read from Ephesians chapter four (NIV):
Instead, 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. (Verses 15-16)
Speak the truth in love. What does that mean? To speak the truth in love joins and holds God’s adoptive family together. To speak the truth in love means supporting a growing body. To speak the truth in love means to build up each other. To speak the truth in love means doing our own part in the work of the body of Christ.
So, grow up!
What will growing up look like? Over the next few days, we will seek the answer to that question that Paul puts forth in Ephesians.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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