Ephesians 4:11-12

The apostle Paul lists here some of the spiritual gifts of the Lord, and in Ephesians 4:12-16, he lays out the purposes of those gifts. We are all probably very familiar with the purpose of “edifying [or building up] of the body of Christ.” We attend church in order to worship God with the expectation that God will speak to us through His word and edify us as He works on our hearts. We are a work in process and God is continually working on us (Philippians 1:6).

However, we may not all be aware that another of God’s purposes is that we all are to be equipped for the work of the ministry. God not only calls the pastors to do the work of the church, He calls all of us to work alongside of them. We each have a calling (Ephesians 4:1), and if you are not yet serving in a ministry, pray that the Lord would reveal to you where He would have you serve, then step out in faith and see the Lord work through you. Lord, may we each have a walk worthy of the calling to which we were called.

Jeff Mericle