Thursday September 21, 2023

Today is Thursday, September 21 and we are exploring what the Bible says about being part of a church community.

As I enter this time of prayer, I pause and become still. I breathe deeply and slowly and focus myself entirely upon God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Pause and Pray

Blessed Lord God, thank you for loving me. I am grateful you are always there to communicate with me throughout my day. Help me to slow down and seek your voice in my life. Teach me to listen with the ears of my heart and discern the particular message you have for me. Amen.

I join all the people of God and worship him with thanksgiving using the words of Psalm 100.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:1-4

Pause and Pray

The letter to the Ephesians is written to a household of believers in Ephesus, a thriving port on the west coast of Asia Minor in what is now modern day Turkey. Through the letter, Paul establishes rules of conduct with members of the family and people in the church. The theme is love and Paul says we are to “submit to one another out of reverence to Christ.” The following section from chapter five is often used in the context of the marriage relationship – husbands and wives. Today I want to focus on what this Scripture reveals about the church and Jesus Christ’s love for and relationship with the church.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24)” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:25-32

I am a member of a body of people called the church. My church is intimately and dearly loved by Jesus. Jesus gave himself up on the cross for my church to make her holy, cleansing her, washing her with the water of the Word. My church comes to the altar of grace and is presented to the bridegroom Jesus without stain, wrinkle or blemish. My church is beautiful, radiant, holy and blameless. Jesus nourishes, protects and cares for my church. I am invited to be a part of this holy mystery, a blessed union between Jesus and the collection of believers across the world and throughout time that make up the church universal. What a beautiful vision Ephesians provides for what God designed the church to be. I am invited to be a part of this vision, appreciate the church’s goodness, participate in relationships, be loved and cherished, strive to maintain holiness and exemplify what is sacred. This is the church that I long for deep in my soul. The church of Jesus. The bride of Christ.

Ask: How might Christ desire to cleanse my church and remove any blemishes, stains or wrinkles? How does Christ want to strengthen, nourish and protect my church and how might I participate?

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus, thank you for loving my church, shedding your blood for her salvation and providing grace to grow in holiness. Wash my church with the water of your Word, cleanse her of every spot and blemish, feed souls with a rich feast, care for the members of your body and watch over us in love. Help me comprehend this profound and beautiful mystery and see my place within it. I read the passage from Ephesians again slowly, paying attention to what you are saying to me today.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24)” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:25-32

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

I participate in the First 15 to hear God’s voice to me individually and also to understand God’s vision for my church corporately. I repeat the word of phrase that stands out to me and record it in my journal to reflect on throughout the day. How has my church benefitted from the loving relationship with Jesus, my Savior? How has my church fallen short and taken Christ’s love for granted? I consider my role in the body of Christ as one of its members cleansed and nourished by Jesus. I reflect on the difference my relationship with the church makes in my life. Maybe God wants to reveal something about my church and my role there. Perhaps God wants to supply something to me and my church that I need to receive.

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus, you are the head of the church, you love her and care for her. I invite you to take your place and lead my church, correcting any problems, healing any wounds, removing any blemishes, supplying any deficiencies, feeding the spiritually hungry and strengthening the spiritually weak. Come Holy Spirit, fill the walls of the sanctuary with your presence and the hearts of your people with love. Amen.

Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. Revelation 19:7-9

I leave this time of prayer with a fresh vision of what it means to be Christ’s holy church. I go to love the people in my church and faithfully serve them with loyalty and devotion.

Amen