For 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.
— Ephesians 5:29-30

When we believed in Jesus and received the Holy Spirit into our hearts, we became part of the church and members of His body. It doesn’t matter whether we attend Sunday meetings or not; that doesn’t change the truth. If the Lord lives in your heart by the Holy Spirit, you are members of His body, and the Lord cares for His body.

Everyone looks after their body to some degree. We try to eat good food so that our body is healthy, strong and full of energy. How much more does our beloved Lord nourish His body! The word nourishes in the original also means to bring up, to rear. The Lord feeds you with tasty and wholesome food. The epistle to the Hebrews says: “Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace…” (Heb.13:9) The Lord nourishes you with grace so that you are established in faith and rooted in His love.

Christ also cherishes you. The word cherishes in the original (Greek thalpō) has beautiful meanings: to warm, to cherish, to treat tenderly. I really like how Thayer’s lexicon renders it: to cherish with tender love and to foster with tender care. What wonderful words, expressing the close and tender care the Lord shows you. In his epistle to the Thessalonians Paul writes: “But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.” (1 Ths.2:7)

Dear friend, if you have heard a strange doctrine saying that the Lord is angry with you, rebukes you and convicts you when you do wrong and sin, and is pleased with you only when you behave well, none of it is true. The Lord Himself said through the prophet Isaiah: “For as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you…” (Isa.54:9-10) God’s kindness and His grace will never leave you, but will always be with you. And to assure you once more of His tender care for you, the Lord says: “Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you.” (Isa.49:15)

Prayer
Jesus, I thank You that You care for me and establish my heart with Your grace and mercy. Thank You, precious Lord, that You warm me with Your love and surround me with Your care. You said that even a nursing mother may forget her baby, but You will never forget me and will always show Your grace, love and care in my life. Amen.