In this culture of the day, the church is often of the mindset that we just appear and God will serve us. We don’t think that we’re really there to help. We leave and split churches over the most minor infractions and useless disagreements caused by our pride. We often lack compassion and willingness to endure any trial with the brethren, neglecting the command of God by refusing to bear their burdens.

We diminish the glory of Christ’s blood-bought Bride and devalue her by refusing to believe or acknowledge that God has called us to a local body, a family and that this local family should be on earth as it is in Heaven. Instead, we apply our worldly passions and lusts to the Bride of Christ as the lens through which we view her.

We exalt ourselves against the wisdom and knowledge of God, thinking ourselves wiser than God and seeking to build a local body made in our own image. Tailored to fit our personalities, desires, and all manners of extra-biblical details.

We overlook that the Bride is as a mother to the children. A place where we should give pity and compassion for the frailties and infirmities of one another. That we are to nurture the downcast. The Bride of which we are members comforts us each as a mother comforts her child. Abounding in lovingkindness, she strives and labors for her household, personally sacrificing of herself to bless and care for them. She takes part in the mandate to guard and keep by keeping a watchful eye on her children and protecting them from dangers within and without. She is slow to anger, gracious, and patient, full of forgiveness and understanding. She is full of wisdom and gives us instruction and correction. When the children go astray, she disciplines and chastises us.

As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

In every way, the Bride exemplifies the purposes and intentions of her husband, Jesus Christ. She is not to seek her own way or freedom from her husband but to work in perfect unison with Him as bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh. This is the work that we are each called to join in as members of His Bride while simultaneously being His children.

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

Our fleshly desires and worldly views have infiltrated the church. Rather than patiently forbearing with one another and comforting one another with the comfort with which we have been comforted with, we are impatient. We go with the idea that we are to be served, to receive God’s blessing, and at the first sign of troubled water, we jump ship.

I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made asgrass;

This is the same way we view our husbands, our own children, and our households. When we do not have Jesus Christ, the husband and His Bride viewed adequately, we will never see our own household and husband correctly. We will not subject ourselves to our husbands guarding and keeping. We will reject his instruction and discipline. We will lack pity and compassion. Lovingkindness will dry up like a stream. We will end up abounding in anger and impatience and only seeking the good of ourselves. And the world, the flesh, and the devil will tell us that this is very good. Seek and serve yourself first. Anything that does not seek and serve self can be cast into the fire. This is faithlessness. It does not nurture our households of earth, nor of God.

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

We must bring these households that we have been called to captive to Jesus Christ. Destroying every lofty thing that raises itself against the knowledge of Christ. Even if that thing is self. If it is something within us that exalts itself, it is a sin, and it must be crushed under the foot of Christ. We are to guard and keep, taking on the work with Christ to destroy all the works of the devil. Even in our own hearts.