Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love

– Ephesians 4:15-16

You might remember this jingle of a few years ago: ”I don’t wanna grow up, I’m a Toys-R-Us kid.” Maybe true for you, maybe not, but we spend a lot of our lives vacillating between wanting to grow up and wanting our ticking biological clock to slow down. We either can’t wait for our birthdays or we think they come around far more quickly than they should.

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he encourages us to “grow up in every way into… Christ”, not having childish, easily distracted, attention spans. And that’s not easy. And then he adds more instructions to this growing-up process by telling us to “speak the truth in love.” I can easily speak the truth; it’s the “in love” part that I struggle to practice. Maybe you do too.

Then Paul gives a flesh-and-blood example, literally, of what this maturity looks like. It looks like a joined together, properly working and growing, built-up body with Christ as the head. This kind of maturity happens when the youngest to the oldest are joined together in worship, Bible study, Word and Sacrament ministry, and love of and service to our neighbor.

No matter the number of candles on our birthday cakes, we can all be equipped for this maturing, love-speaking body by growing together in faith in Christ, in love, and in service to others. So grow up!

Prayer:

Dearest Lord, you know me and you love me. Draw me to you each day so that I may love and serve you and my neighbor. To you alone will go all glory and praise.

Daily Reading: Luke 13

– Contributed by Marilyn Haldiman