The Place to Be #15

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. 

We have seen so far Paul's pen painting this picture of the Church as a building God is building, putting together all the pieces to make a beautiful masterpiece, with His people as living stones. Here he changes the image to one he uses elsewhere of the Body of Christ, will all the parts doing their part.  He has called his readers (including us) to make sure we are doing everything possible to maintain unity within the Body so that things will function as God designed in His master plan.  Begin a part of the fellowship of believers is crucial to what God wants to do in our lives and in the world.  It keeps "the faith" strong and steady; it helps us "grow up", and it keeps our message pure and powerful.  It is so easy to underestimate the power and importance the body of Christ has and to splinter into self-centered schemes that detract from God and His will.  How easily do we abandon God's plan for Christ and His Church?