Here comes the...Bridegroom!
Life for a soon-to-be-bride can get a little stressful. There is the flowers, the decor, the dress, the bridesmaids, the reception, the music.....etc. It is easy to be consumed by planning for the dream wedding..the day where you marry the one whom your soul loves, your companion in a world that is difficult often.
BUT that, ultimately, isn't even the point. It may be the result, the impact, the concequence of the real focus.
We are called to marriage because we glorify God in it. We are called for His purposes, far larger, greater and holier than any we could fathom. Ephesians 5 talks of the husband and wife. But this is a narrative, an illustration of Christ and the Church. This is the REAL Bride and Bridegroom. When I think of my white, beautful dress, I not only think of walking down the asile toward Jeremy, I think of how this is a symbol of how the church, God's people, should prepare to meet with Christ, our Bridegroom. What a beautiful day THAT will be... and THAT is the bigger picture that I must meditate on~.
The following are just a few of the verses in the word that further convey the point:
" Lift up your eyes and look around; All of them gather together, they come to you. As I live," declares the LORD, "You will surely put on all of them as jewels and bind them on as a bride."
-Isaiah 49:18
"I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."
-Isaiah 61:10
"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."
-Revelation 21:2
Thank you to all those who will share on that day as we are married, for you truly will witness a mere fraction, a minute glimpse at what is to come when the Bridegroom is united with His Bride.
For His glory I live,
Kate
BUT that, ultimately, isn't even the point. It may be the result, the impact, the concequence of the real focus.
We are called to marriage because we glorify God in it. We are called for His purposes, far larger, greater and holier than any we could fathom. Ephesians 5 talks of the husband and wife. But this is a narrative, an illustration of Christ and the Church. This is the REAL Bride and Bridegroom. When I think of my white, beautful dress, I not only think of walking down the asile toward Jeremy, I think of how this is a symbol of how the church, God's people, should prepare to meet with Christ, our Bridegroom. What a beautiful day THAT will be... and THAT is the bigger picture that I must meditate on~.
The following are just a few of the verses in the word that further convey the point:
" Lift up your eyes and look around; All of them gather together, they come to you. As I live," declares the LORD, "You will surely put on all of them as jewels and bind them on as a bride."
-Isaiah 49:18
"I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."
-Isaiah 61:10
"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."
-Revelation 21:2
Thank you to all those who will share on that day as we are married, for you truly will witness a mere fraction, a minute glimpse at what is to come when the Bridegroom is united with His Bride.
For His glory I live,
Kate
posted by Kate at 9:56 PM
6 Comments:
How exactly does marriage represent Christ and the church?
I realize this is a difficult concept to grasp at first...given our finite understanding of an infinate God...
please do read the following sermon from a great pastor of this day at:
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/1983/409_Marriage_A_Matrix_of_Christian_Hedonism/
Get back to me with questions and comments.
Kate,
AMEN! What a beautiful illustration marriage has been for me of God's love and intimacy that he longs for with his people. We are here to fall in love with him, we dated him as we heard him call us, we got engaged when we accepted his call and salvation, and we are waiting to be united in marriage at the end of this world to be intimate and truly one with our Lord. I love you. Casey
Well, I'm not so sure about this dating Jesus thing but I think it's an important question to raise. The very success of a marriage (as Kate and Jeremy will soon find out) is not dependent on how well they communicate with one another, how much money is the bank, how happy they are or how many things they own; the success of marriage is only dependent upon how well your relationship reflects the relationship of Christ and his church. When you walk into a church it can have a million pews, thousands in the offering plate every week, and wonderful words being preached that tickle people's ears but none of this matters: the success of the church depends on whether Christ is being glorified to the utmost. The mystery of marriage is profound and deep; not all can grasp it. But as a married person one should strive every day to learn what it is to reflect more and more the mystical union that our Head has with his Body.
I thought you said you would be posting more....:-)
Kate,
I don't have your phone number or anything else so I didn't know how to get a hold of you other than this. I hope that this gets to you! Casey and Eric are going to be coming to La Crosse at the beginning of July and are doing a presentation at Cornerstone Church on Monday, June 9th at 7 pm. You and Jeremy were two people on the list that she wanted to be there. If you have any questions, please email me: nell_3@hotmail.com. And if you could just let me know you got this...that would be great! Otherwise, hope marriage is going great, and maybe we'll see you there.
-Claire Zastrow
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