A special bouquet of flowers (gifts) to build the church.
When thinking about a meaningful gift for a special person the giver of the gift will carefully consider what kind of gift is appropriate or will be appreciated. If a bouquet of flowers is chosen as a gift, every flower included in the bouquet most probably will resemble something (favourite flower/s or memory) of the person the gift is given to. Flowers have a pleasant fragrance and add something significant to the environment where they are growing or where they are placed. Different flowers have different meanings and a bouquet of flowers has a blend of scents, like perfume or wine. The purpose of a gift could be multi-fold. The gift in itself carries a message to the person receiving the gift. It could be a message of encouragement, appreciation, motivation or celebrating a special occasion.In Ephesians 4: 11-12 Christ Himself who is the head of the Church gave gifts to the church. He gave some to be prophets, some to be evangelists and some pastors and teachers. The purpose of these gifts to the church is to grow the saints in their walk with God, to build and edify the church for the sake of the Gospel. The church celebrates their victory in Christ by operating in these gifts that Christ so eagerly and willingly gave. Just as Christ loves the Church these gifts are to be shared freely and with this same love. Each and every believer has received a gift that should be exercised to glorify Christ! Just like every flower has its own specific scent and fragrance so every believer has been created to be a gift to the church and operate in their unique gifting as apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers. Every different scent (gift) is placed into a bouquet of flowers (the church), arranged uniquely just as God purposed and destined it to be!
The unity between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is the foundation for Christian unity. Ephesians 4:13-16 emphasises this unity as the knowledge of the Son of God, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. When the people of God reach out to one another for the purpose of building and growing others in their faith in Christ, the body of Christ is lifted above petty disagreements. The focus is complete devotion towards God and the things on earth become strangely dim in the face of his glory and grace.
A special bouquet of flowers with a unique fragrance and blended scent is compiled with different flowers and different colours and uniquely unites to present itself in purity and with beauty. The body of Christ presents itself similarly uniquely united with different gifts and displays the glory and beauty of Christ!
| It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up... (Ephesians4:11-12) |
(Natalie Angela Barnard serves the congregation at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Cape Town. Mother to Christian, mom in law to Angela and grandmother to Isabella (3 years old), who all live in England, Mother to Natascha and mom in law to Alexander who live in Switzerland. Natalie has a great passion for adventures which includes hiking, anything outdoors, camping, travelling and especially road trips, added new adventure is sailing, spending time with family and friends)
