Ephesians
5:25–30 (RSV) 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and
gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed
her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that he might present the
church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that
she might be holy and without blemish. 28 Even so husbands should love
their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
29 For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as
Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body.
NOTE:
We are to love our wives in the same way Jesus loves the church. In terms of
the worldwide "church," I do care very much for its work in the
world. But I do find myself cynical at times in regard to the local
"church." I minister to those who desire to grow but I tend to shun
those who think they have already arrived. And so, I tend to shun church
activities in favor of meeting individually with believers. I enjoy bible study
and teaching because the people involved, want to learn and grow, but other
activities have left me cold over the years. And quite frankly, that is sin on
my part. Jesus loves the church, the whole church. And if I love Jesus, I need
to have the same heart and attitude toward the things he considers important. I
do desire to see the church mature. I have become jaded over the years by
programs but not real growth in the body (by that I mean character, not
numbers). I've seen churches grow in numbers, and that is good (well, mostly).
But I want to see us grow in character and in a lovely witness--a fragrance, an
aroma that the world can't ignore. That is my desire. Lord, forgive for my
attitude. Give me your love for the body, the whole body of Christ.
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