Scripture
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Observation
Paul exhorts the Ephesians to live lives in accordance with the calling of Christ. They must make every effort to maintain unity in the Spirit.

God has given ministry gifts- apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers- to bring the church to unity and maturity. As the church grows it becomes the complete, mature body that Christ intended.

Application
The great desire of God's heart is for the church to be a perfect expression of His love for the world. This starts at the individual level as we relate to one another in love and humility.

At the corporate level, we need to recognise that God has placed every person in the Body with the gifts and talents that He has graced them with,

At a higher level again, congregations need to recognise that they are untied with one another in the locality. We need to see other fellowships as also being signs of the presence of Christ in the world.

Prayer
Lord please teach me how to love my christian brothers and sisters, to honour the ministers around me and to relate to members of other fellowships who also share in the Body of Christ. Amen.