NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN: John 8-10
SCRIPTURE READING
Eph 4:14-16 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. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who
is the head, into Christ, 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.
This passage of scripture continues from yesterday’s passage. The main theme is that
God has given the church leaders to train and equip the church for ministry. Ministry is for
everyone, not just for church leaders. The aim of ministry is to become a body of Christ
that is unified in faith and unified in knowledge, and that grows more and more into Christlike
maturity. As a church, we do not want to be left immature and vulnerable; instead
we are to grow up. How do we grow in maturity? We do it through prayer, meditating on
Scripture, hard work, discipline, concentration, application, and even more prayer! Another
thing Paul mentions in this passage is that we are also to speak the truth in love. It is
possible to speak the truth without love, but that will repel people. Love takes an interest
in the ones being taught and won’t sacrifice the truth in order to not hurt their feelings
yet speaking out of a heart of love means that the motivation is for their good, and out of
compassion. Sometimes we can get overwhelmed by the standard that God has called
us to but verse 16 tells us that Christ is the one who joins the whole body, who holds it
together; we are dependent on His leadership. As long as we are spending time with
Jesus, listening and obeying Him then He will help us on our journey into maturity.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God to give you a picture of how He has been maturing you over the last few
months. Thank Him for working in your life, for drawing you into maturity, for growing you
in Him.
2. Ask the Lord if you sometimes compromise the truth out of fear of people’s response.
Ask Him to show you how real love speaks the truth out of compassion, then ask Him to
show you a relationship where He wants you to apply these truths.
