Isaiah - Verse By Verse | Walking through Ephesians

Walking through Ephesians - Day 80

versebyverse | January 30, 2008 22:05

Thought: To me, unity, fullness of Christ and maturity are the only hope against weak infancy and gullibility.

Question: Am I an "infant", deceived and manipulated, or am I on the road to growth and maturity?

Scripture: Ephesians 4:14 (NIV): "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming."

When will we no longer be like infants? When we reach unity in faith and knowledge and thus become mature. And this maturity is through the gifted pastor-teachers, evangelists, prophets, etc., working to build us up. My job is to listen, to learn, to grow under their teaching. For a time, then, I am dependent upon them. But I am also gifted and graced to unite with these leaders in unity, in one church (universal) body. My dependency cannot be entirely or only upon such leaders. I must be dependent on God and the Holy Spirit. Infants are dependent on others more mature than they for everything they need. Infants have nothing to give in return. Unity in faith and knowledge is a growing process that brings us gradually out of this kind of other-dependence and makes us God-dependent. God-dependency is maturity, and those leaning on God are best equipped to give to others and serve others, unlike weak infants.

Because being totally other-dependent is a characteristic of "infants", there is real room for false teachers to come in and influence them. The "sounds" of other teachings "blow" around on immature ears. Many of these sounds or calls are heeded by the weak believers, and they are victimized by the "cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming." The fact that this is described here indicates it can and does occur. The remedy is to be "built up" (verse 12) by the serving work of gifted leaders (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers). Christ gifted such men (and women) in order to provide the needed remedy to immaturity. He did not instantly send wisdom to the "infants" but rather arranged for an educational process, (much as we do for our own children), which involved the mature Christians in roles of leadership and teaching. God likes us involved with each other! He likes process! He likes nurturing unto growth on our part over the "infants" probably because we also learn a lot from teaching.

Prayer: Lord, I don't want to remain in infancy! Help me grow, Father, as You have willed. Amen.