A Mature Body

Sometimes I have a tendency to think that other people are just like me or that they should be just like me.  Obviously this is not good for several reasons.  One is, if they were like me there would be no need for me.  Every one of us is unique and necessary.  God made all of creation with great purpose and variety.

Only God can expect people to be like Him.  He created man in His image and likeness.  (Genesis 1:26-28)  The fallen creation has the potential to be restored to what God has originally created us to be.  That is why Jesus came to the earth, was crucified and raised from the dead to make a way for us to be freed from sin and the effects of sin to make the way for that restoration.

All of God’s creation is so amazing.  Such beauty! Such diversity and yet unity of function!  God created each human body with such intricately designed diverse parts and yet these parts have a unity of function.  The different parts or systems need each of the other parts to function appropriately, so that the body is healthy and can perform at peak capacity. 

In the same way the church, the body of Christ, is composed of many different parts.  There is a great diversity.  If each part is allowed to function as it is supposed to there is a great unity of function resulting in the shining forth of the beauty of the character of Christ and the furthering of His kingdom on the earth.  The church, the body of Christ is headed toward the fullness of this becoming a reality. 

Ephesians 4:11-16 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ¹² For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: ¹³ Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: ¹⁴ That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: ¹⁶ From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

The five fold ministry is given until the mature body comes forth manifesting the fullness of Christ.  In order for this to come about we must learn to function appropriately allowing and encouraging each member to find its place of function to bring forth an effective, healthy, and mature body.  Each part must be allowed to be who they were created to be and do what we were created to do. (Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.) Then a mature body can come forth. God is looking for a mature body that willshow forth  the fullness of Christ.