EPHESIANS 4:15-16

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 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.

TO PONDER

There is a fairly consistent message in the Bible about the church isn't there? We have seen it all week, we are built together, we are parts of one body under Christ who is the head.

It's the headship of Christ I want to draw us to today. Sometimes it is easy to get caught up in the busyness of church and outreach programs and the political machinations of national church institutions and to think that the church is all about us, that it only operates if we keep the wheels turning and driving things forward. There is certainly something to be said for getting involved in the work and mission of God's church (we look at that next week), but a big part of the task is growing to become like the head of the church, Jesus Christ.

How often do you worry about how much your life looks like the life of Jesus? I don't mean in a Monty Python's, 'Life of Brian' kind of way, but how often would people recognise the grace, love and forgiveness of Jesus being expressed in the way you live, the choices you make, the way you behave and the things you say?

These days we talk a lot about 'deep fakes', those AI generated images that look like celebrities and can be used to endorse a product but are nothing more than an AI generated image. If you look closely and know what to look for, you can usually spot a fake. The world is pretty good at noticing 'fake' Christians. Don't let your life be a 'deep fake'. Spend some time today asking Jesus to help you be more like him.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, please help me to look more like you today. Help me to show your love, your compassion and your heart for those you bring my way today. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle