Are You Doing Your Part?

 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore He says: "WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE, AND GAVE GIFTS TO MEN." (Now this, "HE ASCENDED"—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love (Eph 4:7-16 NKJV).

Every believer has received a measure of God’s grace so that we can contribute to the growth of the body of Christ. Christ has provided teachers and pastors to equip us for the work of the ministry. The primary goal of those pastors and teachers is to establish believers in biblical truth. This protects the flock from false doctrines. 

I pray that you are thankful for your leaders. Their job is not easy. Lies don’t walk up and say, “Here I am.” They are deceptive, subtle deviations from the truth. Therefore, your pastors and teachers labor hard and long to know the truth so they can teach it to you. Once taught and learned, any deviation from the truth stands out. This is the best protection against false teachers. Therefore, let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine (1Ti 5:17 NKJV).

While our pastors and teachers carry the heaviest load, you have a responsibility to grow in faith and knowledge. Your spiritual growth will protect you from the cunning craftiness of deceitful men who want to take you captive.

Give yourself to the means of grace God has provided. Read and study your bible. Listen attentively to the sermons and pray without ceasing. Also, find out what you can do to edify the body. Ask God to show you your special role. Amen.