David Bahn – Reflections

Ephesians 4:7-8

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ Therefore it says,

It is a challenge to treat everyone fairly in all aspects of life. But budget realities and circumstances of time and space shape choices from Christmas and birthday gifts, job offers. We finally realize that life just isn’t fair. Some get more than others. Some are richer, more beautiful, successful, and seemingly smiled-upon than others. Whether or not we think it’s fair; it is reality. Life isn’t fair.

Neither is God fair by our self-centered reckoning. Look at how Jesus spent time with Peter, James and John – more so than with the other nine disciples. Consider that he had a closer relationship with Mary and Martha and Lazarus than others. Not everyone has the same level of spiritual insight or wisdom.

Partly this is because we do not all aspire to the same gifts or wisdom. We don’t always need the same level of attention. We do all need God’s grace, and it is apportioned to us by the measure of grace. This is a great comfort if we take it to heart. We have what we have by the gracious hand of God. His heart is compassionate and good. If we would shine the light of God’s grace on every circumstance and challenge we would better honor God and find peace in the midst of a world that isn’t fair. We might even thank God that he isn’t fair: we do not receive from him what we deserve. We receive grace, kindness, mercy, forgiveness, and the fruits of his victory: freedom, life and salvation. We get what we have by the grace of God for which we should all be deeply thankful.

Ephesians 4:

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³ eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— ⁵  one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶  one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.⁷ But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ Therefore it says,

⁹ ( In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) ¹¹ And he gave theapostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, ¹²  to equip the saints for the work of ministry, forbuilding up the body of Christ, ¹³ until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, ¹⁴ so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. ¹⁵ Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.