Christ is the Head of the Church

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. — Ephesians 4:16 Our body is controlled by our head (not the other way around). Our head is the coordinating center of our body. It’s the same way with the church, which is called the body of Christ. We draw our strength from Christ, our head. “Remain in me,” he says; “apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Christ guarantees the survival of his body. Jesus assures us, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18). Jesus is the one who makes each member grow, holds the whole body together, and nourishes all the parts to build each other up. No matter how useful we are, how well we do, or how much we accomplish, we are called to be servants in the body. It is Christ who bears the fruit in us. We don’t seek glory for ourselves; to him alone is the glory. Daily dependence on Christ is vitally important. We will never be competent enough to cope without living daily in communion with him. When the church forgets this principle, it becomes a lifeless body, a religion without a soul. Consider some of the many ways in which you depend on God. What are some ways that God is using you in the church? How can you serve him more faithfully? Dear Jesus, thank you for calling us into a living relationship with you. Help us to remember that we fully rely on you in order to bear fruit. In your name, Amen.