My wife and I are taking a short vacation. I will not be posting my blog until next Wednesday (03-17-2021). My prayers, of course, will continue. Where we are going has very poor internet access.
Because of our somewhat fragile human nature, we need to be encouraged. We are often prone to wander, doubt, and get lost along the way. We need to be encouraged because we are imperfect, and under attack. Our enemy will try every trick to disrupt our confidence in Christ. “The LORD is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple. Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. 1WAIT on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!” (Psalms 27:1,4,11,14) 1qâvâh: to bind together by twisting, to be joined together.
This implies an unquestionable intimacy. “…he who is JOINED TO THE LORD is one spirit with Him.” (1 Corin. 6:17) Christ’s relationship with the Body of Christ, His Church, “…no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does THE CHURCH. For we are MEMBERS OF HIS BODY, of His FLESH and of His BONES.” (Eph. 5:29-30) The phrase Paul uses to convey this revelation takes us back to Adam’s announcement: ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman because she was taken out of man.’ (Gen. 2:23) The first bride, was formed by God from the very physical substance of the first man. She was not a separate creation to the man, as many believe. The Hebrew word used to describe her formation by God is banah, to rebuild or establish, and implies a continuation of something already begun. It is not the same word used for humanity’s creation in (Gen. 2:7), which is yatsar: of original creation.
Paul finishes his announcement with, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about CHRIST AND THE CHURCH.” (Eph. 5:31-33)
-Bill Stockham