To Love What He Loves

Ephesians Ephesians 5:25-27 (KJV) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; [26] That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, [27] That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Jesus Christ loved the Church. The church being the redeemed, the born again, the elect, those that were and are and are to be the born of the Father from above. Paul does not hesitate to take the broad and focus it to the narrow. As stated in John 3:16, we know that God so loved the world but here His love is focused on a select people. The church or the ecclesia...the called out belonging unto the Lord. Oh that the church would love His church as He loves the church. He loves the church: 1) Deliberately according to Ephesians 1:4 2) Definitely according to Romans 8:28-33 3) Determinately according to Romans 8:29 Even from the passage in Ephesians you may see that Christ gave himself for the Church and that is salvation. He cleanses the church through His word and that is sanctification. He presents His church as perfect and that is glorification. Oh, what love is this? That the Saviour would do so for such unworthy and inept beings such as ourselves! From here to eternity is His love for His church. Now let me say, this ought to be our desire for the church as well. Simply because He loves it, then we (the church) should also love. Perhaps John expresses it best in his little epistles. I think so. That we have love one for another. If those who profess salvation would only "love" the church you would find revival, reformation, regeneration, etc. You would find joy in serving, learning, and following after Him. If only we loved the church faithfulness would not just be a desire but an actual characteristic come worship time or prayer meeting time. God's people would be where He is, that is where His true people gather. To love the Lord ought to be equated to Loving as He loved and loving what He loved. Remember the church of Ephesus, leaving their first love. Let it not be said of you or of me. Love the Lord thy God with all thine heart... Pastor Jim