Unity in Diversity A Message from Ephesians 4, 7, 16 on the Daily Bible Refresh with Dr.

Brad Miller.

Hello good people.

Welcome to Daily Bible Refresh.

This is your daily visit with me to the New Testament of the Bible.

We use the Revised Common Lectionary Selective reading for this very day.

We're in the Pentecost season.

We made the reading of the New Testament understandable.

We read for the message version relatable.

We give you some points to ponder and applicable by giving you an action step.

We have a prayer.

We do all of that in under 10 minutes.

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Let's get into today's reading from Ephesians 4, 7, 16 reading from the Message but that doesn't mean you should all look and speak and act the same.

Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us has given his own gift.

The text for this is he climbed the high mountain.

He captured the enemy and seized the plunder.

He handed it all out in gifts to the people.

Is it not true that the one who climbed up also climbed down, down to the valley of earth?

And the one who climbed down is the one who climbed back up, up to highest heaven.

He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts.

He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist and pastor, teacher to train Christ followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ's body, the church, until we're all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God's Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.

No prolonged infancy is among us.

Please.

We'll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are easy prey for predators.

God wants us to grow up to know the whole truth and tell it in love like Christ in everything.

We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do.

He keeps us in step with each other.

His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.

We have a great reading here about the spiritual gifts, about growth and about community.

So let's dive into some points to ponder in this journey of faith.

The first is about celebrating divine diversity, and this passage really has a profound reminder that we're all not meant to be carbon copies of each other in an era where conformity often feels demanded.

Paul's words are revolutionary.

Each person receives unique gifts from Christ, suggesting that diversity is isn't just tolerated, it's divinely ordained.

This challenges us to resist the impulse to enforce spiritual uniformity and instead embrace the beautiful variety within our faith communities.

A second point is about a collective growth as sacred work.

The text here speaks of growing into fully mature adults in progressive thinking theology.

This maturity isn't about achieving doctrinal perfectionism, but rather developing our capacity for love, justice and authentic relationship with both God and neighbor.

The metaphor of Christ's body suggests that spiritual growth is inherently communal.

We don't mature in isolation, but in relationship with others.

Another point is about truth through love.

The instruction to know the whole truth and tell it in love is particularly relevant today in our polarized world.

This passage suggests that truth telling isn't about wielding facts as weapons, but about sharing wisdom through the lens of compassion and understanding.

It's a call to radical honesty that's always in service of healing and connection.

Here's your action step.

Identify one unique gift or perspective that you bring to others and to your community that might seem a little different or unconventional.

And rather than downplaying it or find some other way to dismiss it, find a way to intentionally share this gift and service to others.

Remember your uniqueness.

Your distinctiveness is a part of God's design.

We're going to come back and have a prayer in just a minute.

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You.

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Pick it up voiceofgod daily.com let's pray.

Oh God, you are the divine source of all.

We thank you for the beautiful tapestry of gifts you've woven into our communities.

Help us embrace our unique roles while staying connected to to the whole.

When we're tempted to enforce sameness, remind us that your spirit flows through our differences.

Give us courage to grow beyond comfortable spiritual infancy into mature faith that engages with life's complexities.

Guide us in speaking truth with love and help us recognize your presence in unexpected places and people.

Grant us wisdom to see that our differences aren't divisions, but opportunities for deeper understanding.

May we May we move rhythmically and easily with each other, creating communities where all can flourish.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Great to be with you here on Daily Bible Refresh.

Look forward to spending more time with you tomorrow.

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I'll see you tomorrow, good people.

Until then, Remember, this is Dr.

Brad Miller inviting you to know that God's loyal love doesn't work run out.

His merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new every morning.