Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Priests: Called for the divine ministry
Ephesians 4:7-16
“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of body of Christ. (V.11&12).
When the British Broadcasting Corporation asked for examples of important sounding, obscure and even bizarre job titles, one writer offered hers: Underwater Ceramic Technician. Actually she was a dishwasher at a restaurant. Sometimes titles are used to make a job sound more important.
When the apostle Paul listed some of God’s gifts to the church in Ephesians 4:11, he did not intend for these to be understood as high-sounding job titles. All the parts of the body are necessary for the body to function properly. No one part is better than the other.
Apostles: - Those who open up new mission territories to the gospel.
Prophets: - Who apply the words in spiritually compelling ways.
Evangelists: - Who have a special ability to share the gospel that often brings a positive response.
Shepherds and Teachers: - Who communicate the Word so that believers are built up in their faith.
 What is the purpose of the calling with these gifts: (V.12 & 13)
They were 1) for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, 2) For edifying of the body of Christ.
The goal of the use of these gifts is that Christians will be “perfected” in their faith and move on to maturity. It matters little what title we hold. When we gauge our effectiveness by the standard that the Bible gives us, it will not matter when we are moved to another role or no longer hold a specific title. With priesthood ministry we are called to serve and to build up a believing community that bears witness to the reality of Christ.
Prayer- Lord, please use me as your instrument to touch others’ lives. Help me not to be concerned about what title I hold but instead that my life shows others your grace....... Amen.
Thought for the Day:-God’s gifts to us are not for us but for others.

Rev. Rajan Koshy, Trinity Mar Thoma Church, Edmonton.

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