The Abbey Psalter translates verse 3 in this way, "He has put into my heart a marvelous love for the faithful ones who dwell in his land."
The chorus of the song The Church by Derek Webb is:
Cause I haven't come for only you
But for my people to pursue
You cannot care for me with no regard for her
If you love me, you will love the church
This is a truth that we all too often overlook, because we claim Jesus yet want nothing to do with the church. The funny [sad] thing about that is that we can't help but be a part of the church independent of whether or not we actually go into a church building. The church is not a building, it does not have a mappable location, it does not have an old nor a catchy name. The church is those people whom God has chosen and in turn have chosen him. Thus, at the moment of turning, we are part of the church.
Unfortunately this in no way prohibits us from attempting to do the whole Jesus follower thing on our own, which was in no way what Jesus hoped for us to do. We are not meant to live in isolation, our culture may suggest this but Jesus does not. We are commanded to love one another, which we can only do when we actually have an other in our lives. We are told that people will know we are Jesus's because of our love, a love that is sacrificial, that is selfless, that is aimed toward the other, a love that is shown through the individual and the community. God called a people in the First Testament and God called a people in the Second Testament, people not persons, ya'll not you.
We are called to this love. We are called to this community. We are called to love this community. Only by loving God, self and neighbor can we fulfill our calling, and only by loving Jesus's bride can we love and be loved by Jesus.
+ What are your views on churches and the church?
+ How do you need to improve your love, your community, and your love of your community?
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