Sorting Through the Different Words to Get to the Same Meaning

Okay, here's an example of two different Bible translations, where the same verses seem to have different meanings (to me, anyways)...Ephesians 4:14-16:

(The Message): No prolonged infancies among us, please. We'll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love--like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.

(New International Version): Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into 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.

I kind of get different word pictures in my head as I read these two versions. I love the last line in the message--I can just literally picture Christ's breath and blood flowing through me and nourishing me and helping me to grow up healthy and be more like Him. In the NIV I love the beginning--I picture people who are moving back and forth between different theologies and religions instead of taking a stand for something--even if it's the wrong thing. They seem to be looking for something to explain life, but are never satisfied with what they discover so they keep looking.

To me, the message version seems to be more personalized, and the NIV more for the whole body of Christ (the church). As I really read over them again, they are saying the same things, but each version paints different things in mind. Words do make a difference, dont' they. It's times like these I really wish I could know the context in which this was originally written. I'm sure the Greek words used for this passage had specific meanings/definitions that we aren't necessarily aware of, and each translation may kind of twist the original Greek some, BUT, even though we may not know the exact emphasis of each word, the meaning is still there: stop being immature, when you look to Christ's actions and words to help you know how to live you'll grow wiser, and when you do all of this you'll be able to look at people with more love like Christ did. Amen!