And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works, not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25
If you invite me to your house for dinner, I’ll be delighted. If you say, “Please, don’t bring your wife, we really don’t like that woman,” I will decline.
My wife is my greatest treasure, and where I go, she goes. We’re a package deal.
The church is the bride of Christ, the apple of his eye. We can’t say we love Jesus, but want nothing to do with his bride. Jesus and his church go together.
People in the church are hypocritical. I should know because I’m one of the hypocrites. We say things that offend, and we judge unfairly. The bride of Christ has warts. But we cannot commune with Jesus Christ and run from his betrothed.
My responsibility is to find a fellowship of believers that needs my spiritual gifts, and bind myself to them in body, mind, and soul. I need to stick it out through good times and bad, even when they offend, or we disagree about noncore doctrine.
I’m not perfect, and neither are church goers or leaders. We need to help each other beautify the bride for the return of the groom. Time is of the essence.
May I invite you to dinner? It’s actually a banquet. It’s the wedding celebration of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9). Jesus will be there, as will his bride. I hope you say yes.
Prayer: Holy Groom, use me to prepare your bride.