"From the Pulpit" - reflections on the weekly texts from Pastor Greg at Living Lord Lutheran Church Vero Beach, FL
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
7 But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8Therefore it is said,
“When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive;
he gave gifts to his people.”
9 (When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) 11 The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.
We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. 15 But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love. Ephesians 4:1-16
I Can't Help Myself
You may remember that song by the Four Tops in the mid 1960's, of the same title, right? I can't help myself today as I read this text from our middle reading for Sunday, August 4th. I can't help myself because this beautiful text from Ephesians 4 is one of the most beautiful, and powerful texts in all of Scripture, in my opinion.
I can't help myself because of the imagery and message/s it conveys to the reader.
Starting with calling himself a "prisoner of the Lord", the writer identifies himself as one who is captive to, or bound to, Christ. In a good way. He then invites the reader or hearer of this text to live a life worthy of the calling to which he or she has been called. To me, it's a call to unity in the Spirit, in the body of Christ. He's calling all the saints into one community, in the bond of peace.
And then there's this - one Lord, one faith, one baptism. Wow. One baptism. I don't see that as a "policy statement", where churches are reminded that one need not, and in fact, should not, baptize people more than once. Instead, I hear that statement as a call to unity through water and Word. All the baptized enter into this new community, in a bond of peace, to live lives worthy of our calling to be the people of God.
One God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. A call to unity in the God who created us all. A call to end divisions in the faith. A call to live into the fullness of Christ our Lord. A call to Christian unity.
I can't help myself this morning, and every time I read this text from Ephesians. IF there would be one reading that I'd say is my favorite, the middle reading for this Sunday (1st Sunday in August) would be at or near the top of my all time favorites. I invite you to read and reread this beautiful text. Slow down, listen to what the writer is saying - what his message is. Imagine receiving this in a letter, or text from loved one, and how it would make you feel.
And so, on Sunday, when this text is read, I won't be able to help myself as I hear this beautiful letter read. I will quietly rejoice in its message of Christian unity. Amen.
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