Verse of the Day 7/26

Through the Bible - Psalm 40-42, Acts 18

 

This morning as I was having my devotions and looking out on the Atlantic Ocean with the waves crashing on the shore under gray skies and threatening skies, I read the following verses from Ephesians which will serve for our verses for today.

 

Ephesians 4:14-17 (ESV) 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. ¹⁵Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
 

The verses and the passage were fitting for the day and fitting for our times.  Many people in our society are searching for meaning in life and considering Christianity.  When you look over the seas of Christianity in our culture, a "seeker" could easily be confused by various views of the Christian faith and the viewpoints that are held forth as doctrines.  Others have been dabbling in the shallow water but have yet to head out into the deep waters of our faith.

 

May we be willing to head out.  To study, to learn, to apply and to teach; to equip others for their faith journey, their pilgrimage, in love.

Ephesians 4:12-13 (NLT) Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. ¹³ This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

What are we to do in the face of all this?  We need to know what we believe.  Study to show ourselves as "approved unto God rightly dividing the word of truth" 2 Tim. 2:15. 

 

This will be an interesting week for me.  I've been spending time each morning with my son Jason, we are discussing Rob Bell's controversial book "Love Wins".  What I've read so far has been thought provoking to say the least.  Some may question the reading of the book.  For me, it is helping me affirm what I believe while being better prepared to deal with the waves of controversy that will enter into conversations in the days and years to come.

 

Blessings,
Mike
Follow the verse of the day at mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 4:11-16(ESV)

¹¹And 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, ¹³until 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, ¹⁴so 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. ¹⁵Rather, 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.