Daily Bread - Jan 4 2007

Ephesians 2:21 - "In whom the whole building fitted together grows into a holy temple in the Lord."

The Greek verb 'auxano,' which is translated 'grow,' means increase of every kind and may be understood as referring to every dimension of the church in size, number, age, maturity, glory, and power. This growth is not something that is automatic but demands action and responsibility as Jesus taught in Mark 4:26-29.

A seed is cast into the ground and the power is within the ground to produce of itself but the farmer rises day and night in tending and caring for the seed lest it be eaten or overrun by weeds and disaster. The proper growth or increase of the church is only possible when God's people are submitted to the Holy Spirit; for only He can provide the needed ingredients to bring forth the increase.

In Ephesians 4:14-16, we learn that the church both grows and makes increase of itself by functioning in love. Of course this divine love is supplied only by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). The purpose of God is that we mature into the fullness of Christ. He has purposed that we be a perfect man standing as tall as Jesus now in this present world (Ephesians 4:13; 1 John 4:17). It is by the love of Christ that we are able to comprehend with all saints what is the breath, the length, the height, and the depth to know the love of Christ that passes knowledge so that we might be filled with all of the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:18-19). Our lives both individually and collectively must find their existence in the vine, Christ Jesus; for without Him we can do nothing (John 15:1-8).

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org