Being the Church #50

We wrap up our study today on "Being the Church" by returning to the epistle on "the Church" - Ephesians 4:

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Why did God bring us all together into one Body? Why did He give each one of us Gifts? Why has He put into each of us individually - and even in a greater sense - corporately, His Holy Spirit?  To build up, prepare, establish and strengthen us to speak up for and live for The Head, the One Who gave Himself for us, the One Who sent the Holy Spirit, that together we may live for the Glory of God. May it be so.