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Chapter
4
Ephesians
4:1-16 Unity
in the Body of Christ
Jesus as I read these verses, tears well up within me, real tears as I feel your love and your pain for the Church.
May we become mature in the Faith.................the Truth which sets us free from sin and the works of darkness.................that is, "we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." O that Love you give us as building material, is so strong, let us trust it more, we need no substitute.
Jesus, the words in this chapter are so beautiful, you call us to yourself, for your purpose.................you are the Head and we acknowledge you.................Only in humility can we respond, "some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers"................but we are all called to do those works of service that you have apportioned for us. Give us patience Lord and let us rejoice in what you have for each of us now. Nothing exceeds the Joy of time spent in your presence................. time that will change us and cause us to overflow not only with your Love, but with You, in full measure. That is Unity as we do not yet know it.................The Hope to which we are called.
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He
has called me...........
to be myself.............
ordinary and yet so special, for when I accept what I am then I am not only
willing but able to serve my Lord.
I pray that we may each discover ourselves and acknowledge that in the seeking
we discover You.
Then we shall stand in awe of You and true humility will allow us to recognise
our calling............
only humility leads to maturity..............
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Ephesians 4:17-32
Living as Children of Light
In Love, O Lord, You reprimand us - we repent for we would not grieve
you.................but here we are each on own before you.................you
know our weaknesses.
I ask simply that you will give us that sensitivity of knowing when we
fail you and when our thoughts are not worthy of you.
But you speak of Renewal.................of our attitudes of
mind................help us to put off the old self and become the
new................. even to be like God, in
righteousness and holiness .
This letter
to the Ephesians - to your Holy Church - gets more exciting by the page.
In the midst of despair as we realise our need for repentance, you offer
us Renewal.................and Renewal meaning much more than most of us dare
hope for.
Praise be to God - May His be the Glory forever.
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Truth
so often appears clear when we read it but gets so distorted as we try to live
it...............
You Love us because you made us, not because we have done something for you or
even that there is some good in us...............
Why can't we love this way, we should not need to see "goodness"
either in ourselves or in others................
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Light
.............the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." (Isa 9:2, Mat 4:16)
Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me
will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
(John 8:12
Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of
light. (John 12:36
And
Jesus has called Us to be lights in the world..........
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