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We are the Building of God, a temple for the Holy Spirit; we are the Body of Christ, functioning with unique gifts and abilities; and we are the betrothed Bride of Christ, loved by him intimately and personally. Think what it means to be a bride looking forward to a wedding.
- It means excitement. Every betrothed bride I’ve ever met was excited. Her wedding is on her mind constantly. She counts the days and hours.
As the Bride of Christ, should we not, too, be excited about being betrothed to Jesus? I know we’re in this world and it has more than its share of troubles for all of us. But think about what the future holds for us. A wedding! Remember who you are—the betrothed Bride of Christ.
- It means preparation. No one ever had a wedding without lots of preparation. It may be tiring at times, but it is a work of love.
We’re in that preparation stage now, as the betrothed Bride of Christ. You remember the story of Rebekah, being taken back on that long journey to meet her beloved bridegroom, Isaac, whom she had never seen. We’re on that journey now, waiting for the day when we’ll see our bridegroom, Jesus Christ.
I’m sure for Rebekah it wasn’t always a pleasant trip. I’m sure she wondered sometimes if they’d ever get there. I’m sure at times she felt discouraged and maybe even fearful. But she had said “I will” be married to Isaac, and she endured the long journey.
But when she saw him, that long trip was forgotten. And so it will be with us. As the song so perfectly puts it, “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.”
- It means receiving. Betrothed brides get lots of gifts.
Just as the servant took costly gifts to Rebekah, so our beloved has given us incredibly costly and beautiful gifts. His love, his grace, his peace which passes all understanding. He promises he will never leave us or forsake us, and nothing can separate us from his love. No other bridegroom can make that promise.
I hope you’ll remember who you are as you go to your everyday worlds. People around you may not recognize that you’re wearing wedding garments, but don’t let this world rob you of the joy of being a betrothed bride. Isaiah 62:5 says, “As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.”
