Perfecting

DEVOTION
EPHESIANS
PERFECTING
Eph 4:10-13
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
NIV
There is way too mush here for me to deal with it all in my mind at one time. I must stay here for several devotions if I am to explore all the aspects of how I am to apply these words and ideas to my life. First I have to ask and know if I am one of the some or one of the God’s people or perhaps I am both. This has always been considered the gifts to the church rather than to individuals, but it is in fact a gift to a person as well. Am I one of those some who are teachers? I know I have been doing just that for at least 30 years, maybe longer, I can’t remember exactly. But that is what I do, teach, at first high school, then college level and then adults, Sunday school, Home small groups and Wednesday Night Bible studies. I have to believe I am one of the some, called by God to do what I do. I have to believe he gave this gift to me in order that I could be a part of the body of Christ who would assist in preparing (or perfecting as the original language implies) God’s people for works of service or ministry as the original Greek word implies. This ministry is defined as: of those who by the command of God proclaim and promote religion among men. I believe this is how God has decided to use me. I must help God’s people, teach them how to proclaim and promote religion among men. This is the task of the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and the teachers. They all must prepare God’s people. But I also am a part of God’s people who need to be prepared for works of service. I need to be perfected for the work of the ministry. I have to continue to grow and be in the process of being perfected. I will never attain this complete perfection until I stand in the everlasting presence of my God. But I must always been in the process as well as assisting others in that process. Maybe I have lost my focus in that area. I do believe God has called me to help people in their spiritual journey by teaching the truths of God, at least to the best of my ability, which may not be as good as I would like or done as well as others do. This is all I can deal with now. Am I doing what I am supposed be doing? Am I focused on the right goal? Am I helping perfect others so they can proclaim and promote God to the world? I question I must ponder and pray about.