The Church: Bold in Power and Glorious in Majesty
Lisa Cooke

Proverbs 31:25 in the Passion Translation states, “Bold power and glorious majesty are wrapped around her as she laughs with joy over the latter days.” This verse is part of what is called the Virtuous Woman section of Proverbs 31. But one morning while praying, I saw this in a different light, a new application.

I have this verse written on a paper that I’ve attached to the wall in front of where I pray most mornings. The Lord had quickened this verse to me in this translation months ago concerning my own life, to see myself laughing over my future and to be aware that by His grace I was wrapped in bold power and glorious majesty in Him. Strength and honor, or dignity, are the usual words used in many of the translations, but I was inspired by the word picture of “bold power and glorious majesty.” I’ve been carrying this verse around in my heart since the day He quickened it to me, but only seeing it as applied to myself.

On New Year’s Eve, while praying, I looked up at my note on the wall, and suddenly “saw” that there could also be an application of this verse to the Church. I had an image of the Body of Christ being clothed or wrapped in this bold power and glorious majesty, laughing over its latter days! It was a beautiful sight and filled me with awe: I was seeing the Church through God’s eyes.

Even Matthew Henry, in his commentary on Proverbs 31, writes:

This passage is to be applied to individuals, but may it not also be applied to the Church of God which is described as a virtuous spouse? God by His grace has formed from among sinful men a church of true believers, to possess all the excellences here described.

When we think about it, we know that what we see in the natural is not always how things are seen in the spiritual. So often though, we rely on our physical senses to judge a situation and pronounce our conclusion or verdict. Looking at the Body of Christ, the Church, in the natural today would not cause us to see her as boldly powerful or glorious in majesty. We are well aware of how often the Church has fallen short of the glory of God. When we consider what could be the future of the Church, particularly in the tough social climate of today’s culture, we usually aren’t in the mood to laugh.

But when God enlightens the eyes of our understanding, He shows us the hope of His calling, the riches of the glory of His inheritance, and the exceeding greatness of His power. Our “glass darkly” vision is replaced by the clarity of His prophetic Word and we begin to see things as He sees them, in the power of His triumphant purpose and will.

We know things change as we begin to see ourselves as God sees us, declaring His truths over ourselves and by faith walking in those truths. As this happens on an individual level, in the lives of believers, the corporate will begin to build itself into all that God has declared to be true about us as His sons and daughters. Bold power is ours when we know ourselves to be strengthened with might in our inner man and adorned with the armor of God, all by the work of God’s Spirit. Glorious majesty is ours when the effects of righteousness through the blood of Christ render us without spot or wrinkle in the sight of God. Laughing with joy over our latter days would be the spontaneous reaction to such revelation of our full acceptance in the Beloved.

First Thessalonians 5:11 tells us “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” The context of this verse is concerning the “Day of the Lord,” and we continue to look toward that day with all expectation. To hold the vision of the Church that God has of us in front of each other will encourage and build us all up as we live our lives in the light of Christ’s return. He will return for His beautiful Bride, her beauty seen in her bold power and glorious majesty. And she will be laughing…