January 16

built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. — Eph 2:20-21 BSB

Christ is the Head of each member individually, just as He is the Head of the whole body collectively. The growth of the body, from infancy to maturity, comes through the growth of individual members within the body. So, if I am a member of the mystical body of Christ, I will grow. My growth may be slow and gradual, almost imperceptible at times, but it will be growth nonetheless. If I am united to Christ, I will receive, at least to some extent, from His fullness. He is my life, and He has promised that because He lives, I will live also. If I live by Him, I will live for Him and to Him. Paul said, “The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God.” And, “He died for all, so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:15).

Through a sound gospel ministry, our souls are fed. Christ is set before us in all the glories of His divine person—in His deity and sonship, and in all the graces of His suffering humanity. His covenant roles and gracious relationships, His blood and righteousness, His death and resurrection, His ascension and glorification at the right hand of the Father, His present mediation and intercession, His sympathy as a once-suffering but now exalted High Priest, and His ability to save completely all who come to God through Him—these are all presented to us as the food of our faith. As we taste that He is gracious and feed on Him as the bread of life, we grow in Him.