 |  |
and check growth. Think how much harm is done among members of the one body
through lack of "longsuffering". Meditate upon the other attributes of this greatest of
gifts. Love forms the ligaments of the body, without which all is out of joint.
"EVERY JOINT SUPPLIETH."--Strictly speaking, the words read "through every
joint of the supply". The joints supply nothing of themselves. The supply comes from
the Lord, and through the members as a channel. This figure is well illustrated in
Phil. 1: 19 where the word occurs:--
"And I
know that this will result in my deliverance
1.
through your prayer
2.
and the supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ,
3.
according to my earnest expectation and hope."
Here are fellow-members joined together in love, the one praying, the other expecting,
and the Lord supplying. What a beautiful picture of "the joint of supply". Oh to be
honoured as a means and a channel of blessing from our living Head to His beloved
members.
"ACCORDING TO THE WORKING."--Joints and ligaments perfectly adapted,
perfectly united, need something else than fitness, they need life. "The body without the
spirit is dead, being alone." What constitutes the life-giving energy of this body? It is
the power of God not as manifested in creation, but in resurrection. It is "to usward who
believe" (Eph. 1: 19, 20). More than that, it is the power of ascension, "And set Him
. . . . . far above all" (Eph. 1: 21). Still further, it is the power of victory, "And hath put all
things under His feet" (Eph. 1: 22). It is the power that will finally accomplish the
purpose of the ages, "The fullness of Him that filleth all in all" (Eph. 1: 23; 1: 11). It is
this power that equips for service:--
"Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto
me according to the energy of His power" (Eph. 3: 7). "Now unto Him Who is able to
do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask of think, according to that power
energizing us" (Eph. 3: 20).
This mighty power, "the power of His resurrection", is the life of the one body:--
"According to the energy in measure of each one part" (Eph. 4: 16).
The distribution of energeia and energeo in Ephesians is suggestive:--
A | 1: 11. The purpose. Energizing all things with a view to.
B | 1: 19. Exceeding power. "To usward."
C | 1: 20. Christ the Head. The energy.
D | 2: 2. The energizing of the children of disobedience.
A | 3: 7-11. The purpose. Energizing the minister with a view to.
B | 1: 19. Exceeding power. "In us."
C | 1: 20. The members. The energy.