May 23rd | Jesus Christ Equips His People For Works of Service

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS 

JESUS CHRIST EQUIPS HIS PEOPLE FOR WORKS OF SERVICE

Ephesians 4:11-13 “Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”   

In Matthew 20:20ff there is an account of the mother of Zebedee’s sons coming to Jesus requesting that her sons would be given seats of honor in His kingdom. Jesus rebuked her telling her she did not understand the nature of His kingdom. His kingdom is not made up of men and women who will sit in seats of honor. Instead, Jesus said to her, “ . . . whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:26-28)  

Remember, Jesus took the role of a servant on the night He was betrayed. As the disciples joined Him to celebrate the Passover meal, He took a wash basin and towel, knelt down and washed the feet of the disciples. As humbling as that was, within hours Jesus humbled Himself even further by permitting Pilot to sentence Him to death on Calvary’s cross, held out His arms for the soldiers to drive nails through His hands and feet to attach His body to that cross and served a true sinner, the thief on the cross next to Him, forgiving his sins and promising him eternity in heaven. 

Today’s devotional verses tell us Jesus gave you and all believers “apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, to equip the members of His body, the Church, for works of service, so that it may be built up until all who are its members reach unity in the faith . . .” Jesus has chosen you for your salvation and for works of service that are in accord with His will and to His honor and glory.   

Serve the Lord with gladness! 

Prayer: Holy Spirit, fill me with Your gifts to equip me to do those works of service which Jesus has chosen me to do. In His holy name. Amen. 

Take my life and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days, Let them flow in ceaseless praise. 

Take my hands and let them move At the impulse of Thy love;  
Take my feet and let them be Swift and beautiful for Thee. 

Take my voice and let me sing Always only for my King;  
Take my lips and let them be Filled with messages from Thee. 

Take my silver and my gold, Not a mite would I withhold;  
Take my intellect and use Ev’ry pow’r as Thou shalt choose. 

Take my will and make it Thine, It shall be no longer mine;  
Take my heart, it is Thine own,  It shall be Thy royal throne. 

Take my love, my Lord, I pour At Thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself, and I will be Ever only, all for Thee.  (LSB 783)