. . . till we all come . . . to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ . . . —Ephesians 4:13
Reconciliation means the restoring of the relationship between the entire human race and God, putting it back to what God designed it to be. This is what Jesus Christ did in redemption. The church ceases to be spiritual when it becomes self-seeking, only interested in the development of its own organization. The reconciliation of the human race according to His plan means realizing Him not only in our lives individually, but also in our lives collectively. Jesus Christ sent apostles and teachers for this very purpose— that the corporate Person of Christ and His church, made up of many members, might be brought into being and made known. We are not here to develop a spiritual life of our own, or to enjoy a quiet spiritual retreat. We are here to have the full realization of Jesus Christ, for the purpose of building His body.
Am I building up the body of Christ, or am I only concerned about my own personal development? The essential thing is my personal relationship with Jesus Christ - “That I may know Him.” (Philippians 3:10). To fulfill God’s perfect design for me requires my total surrender— complete abandonment of myself to Him. Whenever I only want things for myself, the relationship is distorted. And I will suffer great humiliation once I come to acknowledge and understand that I have not really been concerned about realizing Jesus Christ Himself, but only concerned with knowing what He has done for me.
My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace, Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God.
Am I measuring my life by this standard or by something less?
屬靈的團體
直等到我們眾人……長大成人，滿有基督長成的身量。 （弗四13）
整個人類要重新恢復與神的關係，這正是主耶穌的救贖所成就的。教會什麼時候只顧發展本身的組織，就不再是一個屬靈的團體了。主耶穌使人類恢復原位的計劃，是要人不單個別地，也要在整體上彰顯基督。主耶穌差遣使徒和教師，就是為此目的——叫神在教會整體中彰顯。我們不是為發展自己屬靈的生命，也不是為享受屬靈的安靜；我們乃是要活出基督，好叫基督的身體得以建立。我是在建立基督的身體嗎？還是只求個人的發展？最重要的是我個人與耶穌的關係——[使我認識基督]。要完成神的計劃就要完全把自己交付他。每當我要為自己求什麼，與神的關係就有所偏差。我們若發現自己並不在乎彰顯基督，而只追求彰顯他為我所做的事，那會是基督的羞恥。 [我的目標是神自己，而不是音樂，不是平安，也不是祝福。單是神自己，我的神。 ]我是否以此衡量自己的生命？還是以次一等的標準來衡量？
祈禱◆噢，主啊，我讚美你。因為當我想到你那奧妙的身體中的肢體，腦海中浮現那偉大的思想。我何等渴望迅速地更多認識到它的奧秘。
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