Isaiah 61:10
“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”
It has been a busy year at our church with more weddings than usual. Each one we attended was a glorious event. Beautiful decorations, lovely music and happy couples making promises to each other in front of family and friends. At each wedding the audience watched in awe as the bride made her entrance during the crescendo of a song, all adorned and ready for her groom. I love how in the Bible, the church is a picture of the bride and Christ is the groom. There is something thrilling and perfect about preparing to live the rest of your life with your one true love. God sees us as someone to love, cherish and take care of for eternity. Sadly, we do not always prepare as a bride should for her special day. A bride takes care of many details and makes sure she is at her best for her groom. I would like to share some thoughts about this topic and how as a Christian you can adorn yourself for Christ’s return.
The Proposal
When Jon proposed to me, he asked the question, “Will you marry me?”. I then answered, “yes”! Actually, I asked if he got permission from my dad first before I answered, but that’s because I’m daddy’s girl and wanted to make sure he approved. In order to prepare for a wedding there must first be a proposal and an answer. Jesus proposed to us when He died for our sins. He asked you to accept His gift of salvation. Have you given Him your answer? If not, He’s waiting for your response.
Say “Yes” to the Dress
The dress is one of the first things a bride chooses to adorn herself with for her wedding day. It is often a big event where girls bring friends and family to help her say “Yes” to the perfect dress. Thousands of dollars are spent on wedding dresses, jewelry, shoes and hair-dos. Several dresses are tried on, adjusted, and made perfect for the bride. Our daily dress as a Christian should have much thought and attention. We adorn ourselves everyday with clothing, and jewelry, but do we look as if we are waiting for the return of Christ? Ladies, it is possible to cover your body modestly yet still look attractive. Form-fitting and revealing clothing distracts from the beauty of a Christian lady. Every day when you get dressed, take time to evaluate your appearance. You should look and feel beautiful and lovely because of who you are in Christ.
The Vows
Promises, promises, promises…. I watched couples say their vows with trembling voices. I believe they sincerely meant every word they repeated. The bride and groom have every intention of loving, cherishing and taking care of each other. We all know that humans are not perfect, and sometimes promises are broken. Even though we all have been let down sometime in life by a broken promise, be comforted in knowing that God will always keep His promises. Do you know God wants to love, cherish and take care of you? He gave His son to die for you. If God loves you enough to do that, than you know He will take care of you. You may not always understand your situation, but remember, He promised to never leave you nor forsake you. Why are we often unfaithful with the “one-night stands” that this world offers, when we can have an eternal relationship with God. We all depend on someone or something in life. Are you depending on Christ, your groom?
Happily Ever After
This quote is oh, so true, “You can read the character of a man on the countenance of his wife”. As a bride of Christ, you are showing the world what kind of Saviour you have by the life you live. Marriage is about growing and overcoming challenges. The same is true in our Christian life. You can face whatever comes your way because you are not in this alone. Depend on Christ for your comfort, your needs, and your strength. You can be beautifully adorned as the bride of Christ when you realize you are loved by Him and you are faithfully preparing for His return.
Tune My Heart 