The church occupies a place of tremendous importance in the mind of Christ, and it should be extremely important in our estimation as well.We sense its importance by the prominent space it occupies in the New Testament. Also it claimed a significant place in the ministry of the apostles. Paul, for instance, spoke of his twofold ministry - to preach the Gospel and to declare the truth of the church (Ephesians 3:8-9). The apostles spoke of the church with an enthusiasm that is strangely missing today. Everywhere they went they planted churches, whereas the tendency today is to start Christian organizations.The truth of the church formed the capstone of scriptural revelation (Colossians 1:25-26). It was the last major doctrine to be revealed.The church is an object lesson to angelic beings (Ephesians 3:10). They learn lessons from it about the multifaceted wisdom of God.The church is the unit on earth through which God has chosen to propagate and defend the faith (1 Timothy 3:15). He speaks of it as the pillar and ground of the truth. We are thankful for para-church organizations that are devoted to the spread of the Gospel and the instruction of believers, but it is a mistake when they take the place of the local church in their members' lives. God promised that the gates of Hades would not prevail against the church (Matthew 16:18), but He never gave that promise to Christian organizations.Paul speaks of the church as the fullness of Him who fills all in all (Ephesians 1:20-23). In marvelous grace, the Head does not consider Himself complete without His members.The church is not only the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-13); it is His bride as well (Ephesians 5:25-27<a href="javascript:%7B%7D" style="text-decoration:underline ;">; </a>Ephesians 5:31-32). As the body it is the vehicle through which He chooses to express Himself to the world in this era. As the bride, it is the special object of His affection which He is preparing to share His reign and His glory.From all the above, we are forced to conclude that the weakest assembly of believers means more to Christ than the greatest empire in the world. He speaks of the church in terms of tender endearment and unique dignity. We also conclude that an elder in a local assembly means more to God than a president or a king. Few instructions are found in the New Testament on how to be a good ruler, but considerable space is devoted to the work of an elder.If we once see the church as the Lord sees it, it will revolutionize our life and ministry.

With reverence, humor and skill, William MacDonald wove a daily devotional tapestry that challenges the reader to think deeply and Biblically, and apply God's Word to their lives.

Truths to Live By - One Day at a Time

"Christ… loved the church and gave himself for it." (Ephesians 5:25)

He is the head of the body, the church. § Head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. § We are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. A body You have prepared for Me. § Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. They were Yours, You gave them to Me. § He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world. § Whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son. Grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies … causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Daily Light on the Daily Path or Daily Light is a Christian daily devotional scripture reading published by Bagster & Sons about 1875. It has been reprinted continually since then. It consists of brief groupings of scripture passages which speak to prominent Biblical themes—two themes (morning and evening) for each day of the year. It appends no commentary, but simply allows scripture to speak for itself.

Morning Daily Light

 As the body is one and has many members . . . so also is Christ. 

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. § That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. §  Jesus spoke these words. . . . “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us.”

Evening Daily Light

 Fellowship in the gospel. 

<h3>Unity and Diversity in the Body</h3> 12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:12

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body,<cr>1</cr> so it is with Christ.<cr>2</cr>

 12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body,   so it is with Christ.  

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

New International Version

 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body,  so it is with Christ. 

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body,   so it is with Christ.  

Bible Verse of the Day

November 15, 2023

1 Corinthians 12:12 NIV

Verse by Verse Bible Study

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