Goldfish in the Morgue Devotional

Day 4 - Mr. Body in the Library with a Candlestick (Ephesians 4:1-16)

Mr. Body in the Library with a Candlestick

Scripture Passage: Ephesians 4:1-16

Focal Verse: …but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. ~ Ephesians 4:15-16 (NASB 95)

Probably my all time favorite board game as a kid was Hasbro’s CLUE. I mean, what red-blooded boy wouldn’t love a chance to solve a murder in the safety of their own living room. You know the routine. The board, which looks like the interior of a classic Agatha Christie mansion, is set up. Cards with suspects, murder weapons, and rooms in the house are shuffled and one card from each category is dealt face down and placed clandestinely inside a manila folder. You play the game, trying to solve who killed Mr. Body, how and where. Jotting down clues as you go, eventually someone deduces (or thinks they do) all three aspects they’re supposed to discover and goes for the solve. Once they’ve voiced their accusations, the three cards are pulled from the folder and the players look to see if they’re right. Super fun. Maybe one of the big reasons I went into the line of work that I did.

In today’s passage from Ephesians, Paul talks about another Body. A body made up of feet, legs, arms, a heart, and a head with a single mind or purpose. That Body, of course, is the Body of Christ. The Church. You, if you’re a believer, and me. The passage talks about each body part and its function. In the same way, each of us have been given our own specific tasks to perform for Christ. Our calling. Our ministry. And each of us performs these ministries in unison and directed by the Head. The Mind. Jesus Christ.

There are those in this world, however, who wants nothing more than to hinder Mr. Body. They want to see it dead. In verse 14, Paul tells the Ephesians that there are trickster men out there—Professor Plum, perhaps—spewing false doctrine like a shot from a revolver. Or Miss Scarlett, who entices us with pouty lips in an attempt seduce us close enough where she can bonk us with a candlestick. To prevent this from happening, we as part of the Body must remain vigilant. We must grow and mature. We must study God’s word to keep from being led erroneously into the conservatory where Colonel Mustard waits with a rope or an iron pipe. Remember, a body doesn’t function as well if a single body part is impeded. If it’s damaged or hurt. Stay vigilant, friends. Keep growing in Christ and focus ourselves on the Head and its direction for our lives.

Food for thought: Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually wounded or even dead. Was it a specific spiritual body part that caused the problem or something else? Had you, as part of the body, become disconnected from the Head? If you’re in this spiritual state now, how might you seek to rectify your situation?

Father God, keep us healthy…in mind, body, and spirit. Keep our eyes and ears alert. Our minds spry and wily, so that we can know when someone is trying to lead us away from you. Help us, Lord to keep in step with your direction and focus only on the tasks you set for us to do.

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That’s right, friends and family! Today’s my big 54th birthday! Woo hoo! Just twelve more months until I can retire from my day job and pursue full-time Christian ministry (both in church and with my writing). So, excited to see what God has in store for me in the future. I hope you’ll continue to be part of it, as well as support 4N6 Ministries through prayer, words of encouragement, and maybe the occasional monetary donation via Buy Me a Coffee or by subscribing!

Interested in the book that inspired this devotional, check out I Died Swallowing a Goldfish and Other Life Lessons from the Morgue by clicking the link below!