In review of Ephesians 4:16 it says, “As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”
Bottom Line:
The body depends on Christ, he joins and holds it together. As each part does its own special work, it helps the body to grow and become healthy, and it becomes strong because of love.
What this means to me:
Christ will guide me to become a part of a body of believers. I can benefit and help benefit others by using the special gifts he has given me to serve and be a part. As I do, it helps the body to grow and become healthy.
There is a verse in Colossians 2:6-7 that says, “As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him” (ESV). The Bible often compares life to a walk, because I shouldn’t just sit still in life. I’m on a journey! Throughout the New Testament I’m told to walk in wisdom, in love, in light, in obedience, and in the Spirit.
But one of the key ways that God tells me to walk is this: “I was never meant to walk through life alone. I was meant to be with others, in community.” Community in found within my spiritual family, the Body of Christ.
While I may like walking alone (because I can go at my own pace or need to wait for anyone), I need others to walk with me through life. Here are some reasons:
1. It’s safer. Walking through a dark alley at night or down a long road in the countryside by myself can be a little scary. It’s much safer to walk through life with others.
2. It’s supportive. Life is not a 50-yard dash; it’s a marathon! The only way I’m going to finish the race well and not burn out is by having other people involved in my life through meaningful relationships.
3. It’s smarter. I learn more by walking with others than I do by myself. Proverbs 28:26 says, “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool.” In other words, if I’m the only one who thinks something and nobody agrees with me, I may be walking in the wrong direction. When I walk by yourself through life, I don’t have anybody to go, “We’re off the path. We’ve got to get back on the path and go in the right direction.”
Ephesians 4:16 says, “As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love” (NLT, second edition).
I need to have other people in my life to help me grow into the person God made me to be. Life is about relationships. God is love, and he wants me to learn to love him and to love others. Those are the two greatest lessons in life.
In my own life, now that I have moved to a new part of the state I need to re-establish myself into a community. My wife and I have been checking out several different church communities over the past few months and believe we may have found one that we would like to start becoming more involved with. I have already started by getting together with a group from this community who is really serious about getting into and applying God’s word into their lives.
From my perspective and past experiences, I know for sure that it’s much safer to walk through life with others. Finishing well in this life will include having meaningful relationships with others who can I can share with and can speak into my life. I know that just being part of this group of guys has already helped me to learn more.
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