Jesus loves the church. Ephesians 5:25-29 I am so blessed that Michael Livengood loves me, his wife. It boggles my mind to think that after 'one of those days' Michael really does still love me. He still says I'm so blessed to be married to you.
Jesus thought it possible to love the church even when they did not (do not)equally reciprocate His love. Jesus chose to love the church even when she was wrinkled and blemished and did not represent Him well. Even when love was (is) totally one-sided He considered the church worth enough to lay down His life for her.
It is not so amazing that we struggle to love each other. He doesn't struggle at all to love us, who are soooooo imperfect. He loves each of us individually - but also corporately.
Christ saw many things that he wanted to do for her. Giving His Word so she could be cleansed. Making her holy, without wrinkles and without blemish - every bride wants to be like this. Everyone loves a perfectly beautiful bride.
It isn't hard to love someone when they are lovable or when they are beautiful. But, the church is not particularly lovable and rarely beautiful. Yet His love still remains and His love never changes.
I choose to love the church, the best I can. Because this is what He does, and who He is. I choose to be like Him. Christ saw something in the church even as she struggles and squirms, kicks and screams. He saw something that was worth loving. All the blemishes, wrinkles, spots and even being a careless example of His love, did not and never will quench His love. All the faults found in the church did not and never will quench His love for them.
This is mind boggling love.
