The important goals that mean today is far too early to quit
By Dean Collins
I exercise at least five days a week and some weeks every day. It’s a mixture of activities from dumbbells and stretching to walking and playing golf. One of the reasons I exercise is to manage stress. The bigger reason is simply I’m not done yet. My life isn’t over, and I want my body to be healthy to accomplish the things God directs me to do and to enjoy the life God has given me. So I don’t quit because I’m not finished.
Here is the reality: Whether we know each other well or you happened to read this because someone shared it with you, we are in this life together. And there are a lot more of us involved than you fully realize. Chances are, if you are reading along you are one of the people who has chosen to follow Jesus, and therefore you and I, along with a lot of other brothers and sisters all over the world, make up the body of Christ, the church.
Kingdom living, kingdom work
In Ephesians chapter 4 after Paul charges us to walk out our faith in a manner worthy of our Lord Jesus, he gives us five specific ways to accomplish this task: humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another in love, and eagerness to maintain unity in the bond of peace. These are behavior patterns we know about Jesus. Since he is now the leader of our life, these become the traits and behaviors we must possess. We can’t have the body out of alignment with the head or we will be both awkward looking and ineffective.
In verses 11-17 we learn what Paul has told us many times in his epistles, that we all possess different gifts. Sure, some of us have some in common, but every believer has been gifted and called to do ministry. Jesus himself has equipped us to do Kingdom work. We aren’t a part of the church simply to enjoy some sort of club that eats and hangs out together. Jesus has given us the job of ministry. We are to be daily speaking and spreading his love and doing his Kingdom work.
Usually, when you have a job you want to know how long you are supposed to work. Some of us think work has an age limit. Once we hit 65 or more, many want to retire. “I’ve done my part, and now I get to sit back and watch others and enjoy my retirement. “ But while some particular employment may end, there’s no stopping point in Kingdom living.
Why we can’t quit
Paul used some interesting phrases that suggest why you and I can’t quit yet. According to this passage we are called and equipped, and the duration of our assignment is “until we all attain unity of the faith and knowledge of the son of God, to mature manhood” ( includes men and women). That’s a challenge, but the bar is even higher. Paul says the goal is to measure up to the stature of the fullness of Christ, which will allow us to quit acting like children who run around doing whatever they want.
We can’t quit yet, because we haven’t attained the maturity level of Jesus. Nothing in this passage or anywhere else in the New Testament suggests that one of us or a few of us can or should be responsible for this work. It’s all of us together.
If you were feeling bored or unfocused today, maybe it’s time to reengage in this amazing and life-giving work of building up the body of Christ. It’s not on you or me alone. It’s on all of us together.
Lord, thank you for coming to earth to show us how to live. Thank you for taking our sins to the cross so that we can be forgiven and made whole. Thank you for allowing us to be your representatives in the world today and till you come again. Forgive us for the times we have quit on you or, worse, thought we could do your work single-handedly. We surrender to you and commit to joining you together with all of our brothers and sisters in Christ, sharing the love of Christ today.
Amen.
Your time with God’s Word
Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16; 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 ESV
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