Please listen to our brother Paul—
To the Ephesians, he said: “And God made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.” (1:9-10) And again, “God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be the head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.” (1:22-23) Still again, “It was Jesus who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ....Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (4:11-16)
To the Colossians, Paul wrote: “He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” (1:18-20)
And to the Philippians? “Therefore God exalted Christ Jesus to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (2:9-11)
Finally, to the Corinthian church (although we could continue quoting other passages for several more pages!), Paul exclaimed: “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to Him.” (2 Cor 11:2)
The Father has a definite goal in mind for any local assembly of believers, wouldn’t you say? He longs to make Jesus preeminent among them. He aches to fill them with Jesus. He desires to purify them from everything that would displease Jesus, their husband. He wants Jesus glorified.Why? Because He loves Him so much. And dare we let any other pursuit, no matter how religious, rival that love in our hearts?