Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Discipleship – Ephesians 4:11-13 – May Be Built Up – Growing As Disciples
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 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. Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV)
Prepare Others
I have called you to come to me. I have called you to follow me. I have called you to serve me. I have richly blessed your life. I have given you gifts and talents and abilities to be used to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. How will I will bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name? You will use your gifts and talents and abilities to help prepare people for works of service so that my body can be built up. You are not to simply serve me, but you are to also help others to serve me. I want to multiply your efforts through your preparing and building others up to serve me.
Let me ask you a question. I’m listening. When you came to me, were you ready to serve me. No, not really. Oh, maybe I could serve you in some small ways. Yes, and that is what you did. You started serving me in small ways right away. That was very good, make no mistake about that. Every day that you have followed and served me you have become more prepared to serve me in larger and greater ways. How did I prepare you to serve me? Who did I use to prepare and build you up to serve me? You brought people into my life that taught me how to love and follow and serve you. They gave me a good example to follow. They showed me how to live my life with and for you. Through them, you prepared me to be used in your service. Through them, you built me up as a member of your body. Yes, I did.
What would have happened to you if some of my faithful followers never helped prepare and build you up to serve me? I would have never progressed. I would have never grown. I would have never developed. I would have gone on serving you in small, almost infantile ways. That’s true. But, they took the time. They invested their lives in yours. They did not just serve me through their own efforts. They took the time to prepare and build you up so that you could serve me with your efforts. Yes, they did and I am so thankful for the people that have invested their lives in my life. That is very good.
Will you invest your life in the lives of others? Will you prepare others to serve me? Will you use your gifts, and talents and abilities to help build up my body? Will you allow your efforts to be multiplied through the efforts of others? Yes Lord, I will. Then you will truly bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name.
Lord, thank you for calling me to serve you. You have used others to prepare me for service and build up your body. I have benefited from their labor. Use the gifts, talents and abilities you have given me to also prepare others for service and build up your body. Amen
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Discipleship – Ephesians 4-11-13 – May Be Built Up – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide
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