Ephesians 5:25-27: "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."

"Nevertheless, it is true, that the Lord is daily smoothing its (church) wrinkles and wiping away its spots. Hence, it follows that its holiness is not yet perfected. Such, then, is the holiness of the church: it makes daily progress but is not yet perfect; it daily advances, but as yet has not reached the goal as will elsewhere be more fully explained. Therefore, when the prophets foretell, Then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her anymore, it shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it, let us not understand it as if no blemish remained in the members of the church: only that with their whole heart may aspire after holiness in perfect purity." Those words were written by John Calvin.

Meditate On This!

As we think about the church of Jesus Christ, we are not looking at people who are perfect. Positionally before Christ they are saved, but they are still in progress. Maybe you have had some misgivings about your local body, or even have a misunderstanding of who the church of Christ really is. The church of Christ are all those who have personally trusted in the work of Jesus Christ, those who have been called by Him into relationship.

This week consider the vastness of the church of God. Also consider that although some may have not represented Him well, if called into relationship by Him, they are part of His family. I challenge you this week to hit your knees daily and pray for your pastor, your local congregation, and the church worldwide. The world needs to see that we are not perfect, but because we are saved, we are in the process of becoming more like Christ. Be a part of the solution rather than part of the problem.