Home > Reading > The Daily Lectionary – May 11, 2016

ephesians4-7

Isaiah 4:2–6; Ephesians 4:1–16; Matthew 8:28–34

There are times in my life where I have tended to lament the things I don’t do well. For example, I hold the distinction for being kicked out of my home congregation’s youth choir for not being able to sing. To put it in the language of today’s reading from Ephesians, I was not building up the body of Christ through music.

Each individual, from the youngest to oldest disciples in our congregations, have been equipped with gifts from the Holy Spirit. Those gifts are given for the building up of the body of Christ. As we grow, we learn the gifts God has given to us. In love, we can help each other to recognize the gifts God has given that we may use those gifts. To refrain from using our gifts is to isolate ourselves from the body of Christ. In such isolation we are further susceptible to being tossed to and fro by each and every false doctrine under the sun.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to recognize and use the gifts you have given us for the building up of the body of Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

Today’s devotion was written by Mark Werner, Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Latrobe (Trauger) PA.

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