“Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness.” Ephesians 5:26-27 MSG

In Ephesians, Paul says that Christ’s love for the Church is the model for us to view the world and those around us. His love was expressed to the fullest when he gave himself up for her—the Church. The Church goes far beyond the four walls of any location we may attend or the community events that we may participate in.

The Global Church is the worldwide people of God. Those who have been redeemed and transformed by the work of His grace. The Church is the most vital institution on the earth, the organism through which God advances his kingdom. Our world is the context in which God has spoken and worked out his mighty act of love. We belong to a much broader community of real people that are fearfully and wonderfully made to reflect the nature of our God. His beauty is seen in the diversity of every member of his body.

This diversity is an expression of His love and heartbeat for our world. He didn’t create robots. No, our God made us in his image, with a free will to choose him back. As we turn to him individually, we can reflect him collectively. May we dwell on this matchless love daily so that our world can be stained with the grace of a God who desires to forgive, heal, and deliver all who believe.

Geri Del Vento