Counsel #4 — God’s Love For His Church

Picture: Counsel #4 — God’s Love For His ChurchCSe 83.1

God’s love for His church is limitless! The person who criticizes and damages the church attacks the apple of God’s eye. The church, unhealthy and defective as it may sometimes be, is the main thing that Jesus is all about. He’s always keeping an eye on it, giving it strength with His Holy Spirit. (Sons and Daughters of God, p. 13).CSe 83.2

From the beginning, God has worked through His called-out people to bless the communities around them. Just as God hoped to influence the pagan nations to love and serve Him through the example of the nation of Israel, so God hopes that His church on earth today will demonstrate the love of God to a desperate world. God’s church is to be a river of healing to those hurting physically, spiritually, and emotionally (Ezekiel 47:8-12).^{[83]https://youtu.be/XTcDsTRKcc0?si=IEIuHaIIqFYDsL6o}CSe 83.3

“No one hates his own body but lovingly cares for it, just as Christ cares for his body, which is the church.” Ephesians 5:29CSe 83.4

“Nothing in this world is so dear to God as His church.” Ellen White in Selected Messages, bk. 2, p. 397CSe 83.5

Reflect: If there are elements of the church that you feel do not reflect God’s love, what could you personally do to better represent God’s church on earth?CSe 83.6