Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

In the hibiscus we see glory.  The beauty and symmetry of this flower takes away the breath.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:11 – 13

Jesus Christ is building the church by supplying all that is necessary for its growth and development.  Here Paul lists them as apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers.  Their calling is to equip the entire church to serve all so that the body of Christ may be built up.  This is all God’s doing!  Our part is to recognize what God has already done and to cooperate with him in building the magnificent body of Christ on the earth.  If all followers of Jesus play their parts, wonderful things happen.  The opposite is true as well, if we believers do not bless others with the gifts that we received, listed above, then the body is weakened.

God is the giver.  We are that which he gives.  Our role is to do our parts until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.  There is no greater calling!

Our responsibility is to strive to reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.  As we review the history of the church, it might appear as a campaign to divide, to pull apart, to establish our own identities.  This must sadden the heart of Jesus.  Should we not bend every effort to do our parts to contribute to the fullness of Christ?

I note that Paul is not pressing all believers to strive to obtain a cultural unity but a unity that people in all cultures can embrace, the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, a unity that brings together believers no matter what their cultures.   That is spiritual maturity!

But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”

Ephesians 4:7, 8

Imagine for a moment Christ building his church on the earth, made up of people like you and me, followers of Jesus and committed to Him with all our hearts, but varied beyond imagination!  We need to recognize that and live with others who bring the gifts that God has given them to the building project.   Paul is clear, to each one of us grace has been given (gift/gifts) as Christ apportioned it.  Note, we do not choose our gifting or place, that is the work of Jesus Christ himself, full of wisdom and understanding.  I like the word, apportioned.  Each gets a portion!  Not all but a portion.

Come to think of it, I know no one who is like me!  Each of us is a saved and sanctified individual, ready to become part of this amazing body of believers on the earth.  God has designed that each person has a place in the multitude of places in that body, including you and me, and people of every tribe and nation, language and culture, now and forever.

We need one another desperately.  Paul calls it grace – grace to take our parts in this unique thing on the earth, the body of Christ, often called the Kingdom of Our Lord.

Christ carefully chose us to fit into his body and gifted us in such a way that we support all members in the body and are enabled to work side by side in the growth of the Kingdom.

All of this is God’s work. There is a place there for each of us. Each believer brings gifts to God as individual contributions.  Together they contribute to the building up of the Body of Christ, the church.

I like Paul’s concept here, giving further credence to the wonderful giftings in the Body.  Jesus is the liberator of those gifts, like a conqueror who frees the gifts and then gives them freely to others.  I stand in awe when I think of it.

We have had four leaders in the Tanzania Mennonite Church in our home a few days ago, a most grarifying visit, if I may say so.  Each of these four amazing men were gifted by God, like you and I, so when we are in fact together, we are the Body, the instrument of God’s grace today – each part doing what God enables it to do.

No other vision of human unity comes near this.  Praise God and thank him eternally.

I must admit, I get carried away by scenes like this that met our eyes at Hershey Gardens.  The woman carrying the urn on her shoulder, a Greek motif, was so satisfying.  The soft pink roses added the romantic touch.

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:3 – 6

Unity between believers is extremely important. It is a task, humanly speaking, that seems impossible.  Yet we know that it is what we should strive for.  How is that possible because people are individuals, with bewildering variety and differences, and groups do not like to give up their feelings of superiority over others?  It is clear that no ethnic group or nation fully expresses this unity.

Christ’s body absorbs all kinds of people!  Even me and you.  The secret is to know and love Jesus Christ. That love binds us together into a new humanity, otherwise unknown on the earth. As I think of it, what would it be like if every believer in Jesus Christ loved all other believers, individually and collectively?  It stretches the imagination.  We see so much division and competition that it is hard to even imagine a church that encircles the earth full of people of all cultures who truly love one another, not just in word but in actual life.  That is the will of God and if he is in us to do it, why do we look so scattered?

The unity that we do have is not of our own making but is a gift of God, received when we believe.  So, Paul says, keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.   It is a gift of God, pure and simple.  It is not a man-made unity, but the unity of the Spirit.  We get it from God!  Now Paul says, Keep it.

Yesterday, July 27, we celebrated Paul and Twila Liechty’s 9th Anniversary by visiting the Hershey Park.  I caught them at an interesting moment, with a compliant pig!  What fun we had.  Had lunch then at Isaac’s in Hershey.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Ephesians 4:1 – 2

Paul is not a prisoner of mighty Rome, he is the prisoner for the Lord.  Not of the Lord but for the Lord.  He is in the embrace of God’s love and forgiveness, a prisoner of grace!  It is a place of freedom, joy and true affection.  Paul is not complaining, but is exalting the wonderful provision that all have in Christ Jesus.

Paul’s calling to follow Jesus dominated his life.  He knew its challenges and joys.  But he encourages the believers in Ephesus who are also called, to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  They had the same calling that Paul had and that we have today, no matter where we are or who we are.  Paul urged the followers of Jesus to live their lives consistent with their calling, that was, of course, with mercy and grace.

He goes on to explain how that will be, a word of advice and encouragement to all of us who have become disciples of Jesus Christ.  We should be completely humble and gentle.  Not vindictive or critical, but bearing the Cross of Christ in humility.

Paul goes on that life in Christ is a life of patience, not of pride, demanding rights, etc.  It is a life of looking out for our brothers and sisters in Christ, encouraging one another because the way is difficult.  We are those who are bearing with one another in love.  The way of holiness is a walk with other believers, all bound together by the same blood of Christ, a love that goes beyond all human loves.  We need one another desperately.  This is yet another provision from God himself.

On the site of Flight 93 crash the Federal Parks are going all out to commemorate the event.  I was impressed.  The high, high walls seem to represent the magnitude of the plane’s fate and the uplifting emotion of an event that represents a dark, dark day in US.  In hind sight the tragedy with its loss of life is seen in a context of national history, an event to be noted and appreciated.

Here we see walking through exhibit are Evan on the left, then Elizabeth and Anna Ruth.