Tethered Together

We get the privilege of continuing to hear from the Apostle Paul this week!  The passages we are reading together will span from Ephesians 2 to Philippians 2.  The theme I was struck by in Paul’s writing in these chapters was his all-consuming care and focus on the body of Christ. 

… (you are) fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household…  (in whom) the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.  And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.  (Eph 2:19-22, NIV)

We cannot function individually.  We cannot think just about ourselves.  We cannot afford to consider only our own welfare.  Why?  Because we are tethered together.  We are not our own, but bought with a price.  We are a body! 

In Ephesians and into Philippians, we find life-changing prayers, we find heart-filled blessings and admonitions, and we find detailed and intentional instructions for effectual Christian service.  Mostly, we find in penned form the heart of a man who cared - above all thoughts of himself—for the betterment and growth of the body of Christ all around him.  That is the word and the thought that stood out to me as I read these passages - the different forms of “all”:

Made us both one (Eph 2:14)

In One Spirit (Eph 2:18)

The Same body (Eph 3:6)

All generations (Eph 3:21)

The whole body (Eph 4:16)

Members of His body (Eph 5:30)

One spirit and one mind (Phil 1:27)

The same mind having the same love (Phil 2:2)

In Ephesians, we see the yearning for all to receive far more than they could ever ask or think (Eph 3:20).  We see the prayer for one body and one Spirit, one faith, one baptism, one hope…in ALL. (Eph 4:4).  Even from jail, we see the hunger of a heart that truly cares more for the salvation of all than for his own life (Philippians 1:20-25). 

We don’t see many individuals mentioned, but much more the “all.”  “Father of all” (Eph 4:6), “until we all attain…” (Eph 4:13), “making supplication for all the saints” (Eph 6:18), and “Grace be with all who love our Lord…” (Eph 6:24). 

There were times Paul came and went, there were times he taught in person and times he sent letters - we see his ministry looking many different ways in many different seasons.  But the one overall truth that did not change was that he always had his spiritual eyes on the “ALL.” 

It should be encouraging to us that how we are walking out our callings may look different - but they can each be about the all.  The hand and the foot may work in very separate arenas, but they still do what they do tethered together.  There is no separating them from one body.  Our callings are individual, but our mission is united.

From deserted deserts to the bustling cities, every place is contained in the “ALL.”  We can’t select God’s importance of one mission, one place, one people over another - wealthy or poor, isolated or surrounded, experienced in faith or inexperienced - only together do we make the ALL.  We must humble ourselves, so that even if we are in the dire straits of a jail cell or the exalted courts of the king, our hearts will be able to see past our own good or welfare and think about the all. 

No one left behind!  Until all have heard!  The one counts, and the all counts.  Your calling counts, and so does the calling of the body.  The Apostle Paul knew that when you’re walking with God, your individual calling and the calling of the body will be tethered together in perfect harmony. 

Grace be with you ALL who love our Lord Jesus Christ! (Eph 6:24)