”No prolonged infancies among us, please. We’ll not tole- rate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everyth- ing. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.” Ephesians 4:15-16 (MSG)

The church is amazing. I call it the hope of the world! But not when it is dysfunctional. It ́s the same way as when your physical body is dysfunctional. If your legs won’t carry you, if your heart doesn’t pump properly or if your ligaments are defected. You can scream and fight, but you still need help.

I myself have had some trouble with my Achilles tendon which gets recurring tears. Some say that the body is in need of extra supplies of vitamins etc. when it reaches past you being a youth. Reluctantly I have to agree. If I add some extra magnesium/calcium, it seems to help. If there is still a lack of it, it tears.

If we try to apply the picture to the Bible, we find some interesting things. “…We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do.” [MSG]
Christ is just not “the head”, but also the source of love in our life, so that we can grow. Without tearing.

Often we tend to think that we can do things by oursel- ves after a while. I’ve got skills, we say! I know how to do this. But when we say so, we distance ourselves from needing input.

This is where the love of Christ comes in. In our zeal for the truth, the motive of love might fade. We have to remember where we came from (compare 2 Peter 1:9). It is when we honestly can say that we love each other with the love Christ poured out on us, that the church reaches its potential. The love of Christ made to a verb, makes the church superb! /Anders Svedstam

Prayer

– That God ́s love in Christ will be renewed in the church. – That Christ ́s love will be our foremost motive in all we do.
– That Christ ́s love would help us to forgive those we have difficulties forgiving.

– That relationships can be restored with God ́s love.