Grace As Christ Apportioned It
Date: March 8, 2023
I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional.
B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Word and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study and savor
S - Summarize and Share
You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?
Bible Scripture Verse – Ephesians 4:7
"But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it."
Listen for God’s Voice
Heavenly Father, We thank you for your endless grace and the way you have generously distributed it among us, your children. We recognize that everything we have and everything we are is a gift from you, and we are humbled by your love and mercy.
Help us to use the grace you have given us to build up the body of Christ and promote unity in our communities. May we never take for granted the abilities and gifts you have blessed us with, but instead use them for your purposes and to bring glory to your name.
In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
Explore History – Who wrote it, when and to what audience? Key people in the story?
The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the churches in Ephesus (which is modern day Turkey) while he was in prison in Rome around 60-62 AD. The purpose of the letter was to encourage the churches in their faith and he was emphasizing the importance of unity in the body of Christ and how each member of the church was given grace by Christ as a gift that enables believers to serve and build up one another.
Study and Savor – Key Words
“Grace” refers to the unmerited favor or kindness of God towards humanity. It is a gift that is freely given to us, even though we don't deserve it. In today’s verse, grace refers specifically to the grace that has been given to believers by Christ. This grace is what enables us to serve and build up one another in the body of Christ.
“Apportioned” means to distribute or divide something into portions or shares. In this verse, Paul is saying that Christ has apportioned grace to each individual believer. This means that each believer has been given a unique measure of grace, based on God's sovereign will and plan for their life.
Together, these two words emphasize the idea that grace is a gift from God that is distributed or divided among believers. Each believer receives a unique measure of grace, and it is through this grace that we are able to serve and build up one another in the body of Christ.
Summarize and Share
This verse speaks to the unique gifts and abilities that God has given to each individual believer for the purpose of serving and building up the body of Christ.
It reminds us that we are not alone in our walk with Christ. God has given each of us grace, and together we make up the body of Christ. We are meant to support and encourage one another as we seek to fulfill our unique roles within the church.
We have also been given specific gifts and abilities for the purpose of serving others. We are not meant to hoard our gifts, but to use them to bless and encourage those around us. This means that we should be actively seeking ways to serve others and to build up the body of Christ, using the gifts that God has given us.
Our gifts and abilities are not our own, but rather gifts from God. We should be humble in recognizing that we are merely stewards of these gifts, and that it is our responsibility to use them for His purposes.
So how can we use our gifts and abilities to serve and build up others? What specific ways can we contribute to the body of Christ? Are we being good stewards of the gifts that God has given us?
Ephesians 4:7 challenges us to live our lives with a spirit of humility and a heart for service. It reminds us that we are part of a larger community of believers, and that we have a responsibility to use our gifts and abilities to serve and bless others. May we be faithful in using the grace that God has given us to build up His kingdom and to bring glory to His name.
Bible Cross Reference
1 Corinthians 12:11 - "All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines." This verse speaks to the idea that God has given each believer a unique measure of spiritual gifts, just as Paul wrote that Christ has apportioned grace to believers in Ephesians 4:7.
Romans 12:6 - "We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us." This verse emphasizes that the gifts that believers have are given by God's grace, just as Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:7.
1 Peter 4:10 - "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." This verse encourages believers to use their gifts to serve others, which is also the message of Ephesians 4:7.
Colossians 2:19 - "They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow." This verse speaks to the unity of the body of Christ and how each member is connected to the head, which is Christ. This idea is also present in Ephesians 4:7, which emphasizes the unity of the body of Christ and how each member has a role to play in building it up.