Seek First – Kingdom Focused Devotionals

“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift” (Eph. 4:7_

                Last week we focused on unity that is provided by the Spirit but preserved by the saints.  We considered the seven fold bond of unity, culminating in the great affirmation that we all have one Father.  However, unity does not mean uniformity.  We have different personalities, interests, and gifts for ministry. 

                With verse seven we begin an extended session on the ministry of the gifted body.  The phrase “each of us” reminds us first that all are gifted.  Second it affirms that we are uniquely gifted by the grace of God.  Paul uses the word “grace” here in the same manner that he uses “grace gifts” in 1 Corinthians.  What are in mind are the specialized endowments that enable us to minister to Christ and edify the body. 

                The grace we are given empowering us for ministry “according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”   These words describe both the abundance of the grace and also the personal care with which the Lord portions out gifts to different members.  He is personally involved in gifting and designing His church.  For us not to find our proper place of service is slight to His grace. 

Prayer:  Father, I cannot fathom Your infinite care in gifting and designing Your body.  Amen.

“One God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph. 4:6).

                Paul may be echoing the language of Malachi who asks, “Do we not all have one father?  Has not one God created us?” (Mal. 2:10a).  All of mankind are created by God, in His image and thus Paul can speak bowing his knees before the Father “from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name” (Eph. 3:15).  But now through Christ those created in His image can be brought back into relationship as sons (Eph. 1:5).  Here again, Paul’s concern is to underline the unity of the church.  We all have the same Father. 

                God is over all in the sense that He alone is sovereign and thus transcendent over all.  He is pervasive through all, everything speaks of Him, and He is immanent in all. 

                It is possible that Paul is quoting from and amplifying an early confession of faith.  The reference to “one Spirit,” “one Lord,” and “one God and Father” should demonstrate how central is the doctrine of the triune God was and is to the church’s faith.  Don’t be misled by the misguided argument that the doctrine of the “Trinity” is not taught simply because the word itself does not occur in Scripture.  Its teaching is consistent and plain throughout Scripture. 

Prayer:  Thank You Father, for the permission to address You as “our Father.”  Amen

“One Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Eph. 4:5).

                Believers have one Lord—Christ alone.  The earliest confession was “Jesus is Lord.”  This acknowledgement was one that had many possible consequences in the first century.  They could no longer address the Roman Emperor by the title “lord” in any sense that would imply divinity.  We take the confession Jesus as Lord all too lightly.  Many of our brothers and sisters world-wide pay a high price when they dare make such a confession.  Today, when you address Christ as Lord, remember what it means.  It means He rules in every area of life. 

                Faith here probably includes both the act of believing and the content, or substance of one’s faith.  They are inextricably bound together and both are true of all believers.  All who are believers must place their faith in Christ alone.  It is also true in the sense of “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).  (If you are interested in a simple but helpful tool to help you understand the content of your faith, look for “Core Convictions” by Ken Hemphill in your local bookstore). 

                The outward and visible sign of faith, expressing the work of regeneration, is baptism.  It was instituted by the Lord Himself and was an experience that all early believers shared.  Even a cursory reading of the book of Acts will reveal that all early believers all passed through this initiation. The act of baptism does not save.  It is the one faith in the one Lord that saves.  The physical act of baptism symbolized the inner work of the Spirit who baptized all believers into the one body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). 

Prayer:  Father, I thank You for preserving Your word that the content of my faith is sure.  Amen

“For there is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling” (Eph. 4:4).

                The church in Ephesus was made up of believers from diverse racial and social backgrounds.  They were people of different ages and temperaments.  There are many things that could have brought division in the church, but the spiritual realities which unite them far outnumber those pressures which could divide them. 

                As we will see over the next few days, Paul will depict a powerful seven-fold cord of unity.  We will look at the first three today.  The one body is the body of Christ which is comprised of all of His people who have entered into relationship with God the Father through Him.  The first implication of this truth that Paul was quick to point out is that Jewish and Gentile believers have been reconciled to one another in this one new body (2:14). 

                The one Spirit refers to the Holy Spirit who fills all true believers.  Paul elaborates on the work of the Spirit in creating one new unified body in 1 Corinthians 12:13.  “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” 

                The hope of our calling is the hope of sharing the glory of Christ.  Presently we are being transformed from glory to glory (i.e. we are being conformed to His image) but ultimately in the consummation, we shall be like Him (1 Jn. 3:2).  The same Spirit that is transforming us now will ultimately conform all believers into His image.  For this reason alone, disunity is a reproach to the work of the Spirit, who indwells us. 

Prayer.  Thank You for making us one body.  Forgive me when any of my actions or attitudes brings reproach on the unifying work of Your Spirit.  Amen.

“Being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3).

                Unity among believers is both the desire of God and the gift of God.  It was made possible by the death of Christ (Eph. 2:14ff), and is made effective by the Spirit of God.  Thus we have no excuse when there is a lack of unity.  Our only recourse is to repent and allow God to restore unity. 

                Notice that while we cannot produce unity, we must preserve unity.  The translation “being diligent” is not really strong enough.  The Greek word connotes the idea of zeal.  The NEB gets at this idea by translating it as “spare no effort.”  We must give unity our utmost concern and thus our utmost effort. 

                This unity of the Spirit must be maintained in the “bond of peace.”  Our unity is not a stand-off nor a truce, but true reconciliation.  Paul states it this way in the companion letter Colossians.  “Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity” (Col 3:14). 

                Have you put on love?  Are you at peace with everyone in church?  What are you willing to do?  Are you willing to “spare no effort?” 

Prayer:  Father, I confess that sometimes I give up too easily when it comes to maintaining unity.  Forgive me.  Amen.

“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love” Eph. 4:2.

                Last week we introduced the idea of the “worthy walk” (4:1).  This week we will begin to look at it in more detail.  You will quickly see an emphasis on love and unity.  Do you know why?  It’s simple, really!  It is difficult to live together in community.  It is difficult enough for a husband and wife to get along when living under the same roof.  Now multiply that a hundred times or so and you get some idea of why it is difficult for members of the same church to get along. 

                But get along, we must!  We cannot afford for our lack of unity to become a barrier that keeps us from fulfilling our God given mission.  Paul lists four virtues that should be characteristic of believers.  They bear a striking resemblance to the fruit of the Spirit.  Thus they are not achieved by “trying harder” but by surrender.  We cannot make excuses for not exhibiting these virtues simply because they are not natural to us.  They aren’t supposed to be natural.  They are supernatural. 

                Humility is best modeled by Christ whose life and death were one of service and sacrifice without any thought to His own reputation (Phil. 2:5-11).  Humility means that we will see the needs of others as having greater importance than our own.  Gentleness describes power under control.  The person who is gentle or meek does not attempt to assert his/her own authority to get their own way.  Patience speaks of a slowness to retaliate when hurt by another.  “Showing tolerance” is the practical outworking of patience.  It causes us to continue to love another when that person’s faults offend or displease us.  All these virtues must be practiced in the context of love.  There is not “holier than thou” attitude associated with love. 

                Can you imagine how this verse can change your home and your church? 

Prayer:  Father, fill me with Your Spirit so that I may exhibit these virtues.  Amen

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called” (Eph. 4:1). 

                My junior year in high school, we won the state championship in football.  We were given a windbreaker with the school name, logo, and championship date proudly displayed.  Before we received the jackets, our coach reminded us that when we wore our jacket, we needed to be aware that the reputation of our school was at stake.  We need to be reminded to walk worthy of the One who called us. 

                Chapter four begins Paul’s practical application of the truths we have learned in the first four chapters.  Thus he begins now with instruction of how glory is to be rendered to God through the church.  It begins with each believer walking worthy of their calling.  You may have noticed the linking word “therefore.”  It indicates that Christian conduct should always flow from Christian doctrine.  Our sense of duty and service flows naturally from our gratitude for the grace we have received in Christ. 

                The call here speaks not only of the call to salvation but the call to service.  They are inextricably bound together.  The gift of grace carries with it the privilege and responsibility to live our lives in such a manner that is worthy of Him who called us.  Since we are called to reign with Him in the heavenlies, we must live in such a manner that we honor and serve Him on earth.

Prayer:  Help me today to walk worthy of my calling.  Amen

“To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.  Amen” (Eph. 3:21).

                This is Paul’s doxology and in a manner similar to most doxologies it declares that glory is due to God through all eternity, generation to generation.  What is unique about this doxology is how the glory is to be shown through all generations, forever.  It is to be shown “in the church.” 

The church is the realm of the outworking of God’s kingdom agenda on earth.  This takes us by surprise because in some quarters today, people don’t think much about the church.  Church attendance is down, giving is down, and involvement is down.  How can that be if God’s design and desire is to give glory to His Son through the church in every generation forever?  If we love, we will love His church for it is the bride of His only begotten Son and as such the community through whom He desires to give glory to His Son.

Further, the church will continue to proclaim the manifold wisdom of God even in heaven (3:10).  The church is the only community on earth that will continue in heaven.  The service we accomplish on earth through His church will be like treasures laid up in heaven.  The church is never to take glory for itself, for glory in the church merely reflects onto Christ Jesus and through Him to the Father.  Christ and His church are seen together giving to the Father unending glory.  How can we begin to comprehend that God’s greatest glory is seen in the display of His grace in the church whereby sinful men are united with His sinless Son. 

Prayer:  Father, I desire to give You all the glory through my involvement in Your church.  Amen

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us” (Eph. 3:20).

                What is your greatest dream for your spiritual life?   What would you like to do to advance God’s kingdom if there were no limitations?  Did you know that God desires to do more through your life than you have dared dream or ask?

                God wants to accomplish more through your life than you can even imagine.  There is no limit to God’s power and for that reason there is no limit to what He can do through your life if you present yourself to Him as living sacrifice. 

                You ask yourself why God would work through an instrument like me.  He does so because He desires to advance His kingdom and manifest His glory.  When God accomplishes His work through ordinary human instruments just like you and me, He receives glory as we will see tomorrow. 

                Knowing all you do about God’s desire to empower and use you for the advance of the Kingdom, why do you attempt so little for Him.  I struggle to understand why 80% of those who claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ ever become involved in His activity to extend His kingdom to all the peoples of the earth. 

Prayer:  Forgive me for attempting so little with so much.  Amen.

“That you may be filled up to all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:19b).

                Have you ever been to a buffet where the food was so delicious you couldn’t stop eating?  At some point during the feast, you probably came to the sudden and startling realization that you could eat no more.  You were full!  How would you like to be filled up spiritually to the fullness of God?

                We have already encountered this word fullness in Eph. 1:23 where Paul declared that God gave Christ as head over all things to the church, “which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”  Paul is not praying for an attribute or spiritual gift or spiritual empowering but for the full indwelling of God. 

                We readily know that eternal God cannot be limited to or by the capacity of any of us, but Paul does not want to pray for anything less for God’s people than the fullness of Himself that He seeks to bring into our lives.  When you read this prayer request of the great apostle, you should recall that in Colossians 1:19 Paul indicated that it was God’s pleasure for His fullness (same word) to dwell bodily in Christ.  Now he wants us to show forth His fullness to a lost and dying world in the same manner that Jesus did when He was present among men.  God’s design for your life and for your church community is greater than you ever imagined. 

Prayer:  Father, I am awed by Your desire and willingness to demonstrate Your fullness in my life.   Amen