The church is Christ's bride.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:25-27
And we are composed of different parts (1 Cor 12). I remember reading the book Slave by John MacArthur and thinking, we, believers, are all slaves/servants of God. We all live for the purpose of glorifying God. Where is this pride in me coming from? As the body we encourage one another, strive for holiness, bear each other's burdens. God desires purity in the church, meaning integrity and honesty.
Reading JM's Opening up Acts book he says:
The second result of the church's purity was evangelistic success as 'all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number' (Acts 5:16). Some may complain that a firm stance against sin will turn people away from the church and God, and that we should concentrate on 'love' and 'tolerance'. But that would be the opposite of what God desires. Real love is truth, and cannot tolerate sin (1 John 1:5-10, 4:8). In fact, a firm stand for personal purity was exactly what energized the early church into greater evangelism. They submitted to God and gave the devil no foothold in their lives (James 4:7). This evident purity kept the fakes and phonies outside because of their fear of God (v.13a) and prevented unbelievers from infiltrating the church, like tares sown among the wheat (Matt. 13:24-30). Only genuinely born again Christians would be a part of such an assembly. This purity made even the outsiders hold them in 'high esteem' (v.13b) for their love for one another.... Once people saw the power of the church in its purity and love, they could not help but be drawn towards the love of God.Quite contrary to our normal thinking that we must be tolerant. But purity of the church shows something. It shows God's holiness and love for us, and in turn we love one another as we keep each other accountable towards Christlikeness. This can be repelling but also appealing to unbelievers when they see this unique radical love.
I was discontent sometimes serving in the children's ministry. There's little fruit and a lot of doubt whether they're just regurgitating what I am saying when they have the "right answers". My buddies who serve the older students seem to have a loftier task - bigger issues, but also means bigger fruit. But that's silly of me to think. Jesus loves the little ones too and these are precious souls. Sometimes I think of my colleagues who became believers in college and how they say they didn't pay attention when they were kids or didn't get a grasp of the gospel then... I am going to be that teacher that the kids will look back and say I didn't pay attention to or understand her. haha. But that's ok. I am to spend and be spent for souls. As a body, whether we serve in the same or different ministries, it's neat to see how we pray for one another's burdens and encourage each other in the way we serve others. I love how in years past and now when a brother/sister and I would serve in different areas of church but still cared for the other's ministries because of our love for the Body. I hope I continue to have that mindset and love for the Body... it is Christ's bride whom He gave Himself up for.
Since today is Sunday...
"Every day belongs to God. But Sunday is the Lord's day in a special way. Jesus has owned it uniquely ever since that first Easter when He stepped out of the empty tomb. Think of it. On that morning, for the first time, He had conquered death. He had atoned for our sin. He had made a way for us to come boldly into the presence of the Father. And every Sunday since has been an anniversary of that amazing morning. The Savior has risen - and everything has changed"
Stop dating the Church by Joshua Harris
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