Originally posted 9/25/20
If servants are concerned with the to-do list, if friends are concerned with being in relationship, if children are concerned with learning, then as the bride we are concerned with intimacy with God.
We are continuing our study of our ever deepening relationship with God.
We are the bride of Christ
Ephesians 5:25-27 and 32 (ESV) “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” “This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.”
Revelation 19:7 (ESV) “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure.”
As a woman, it is easy for me to think of myself as a bride. I was a bride almost 17 years ago. Many little girls spend time dreaming about their wedding day, and what life will be like after they are married. I know I did!
My husband, Brett, and I on our wedding day!
My relationship with Brett changed drastically the day I said, “I do,” and became his wife. No longer did we live in separate homes, and in fact even shared the same room. As a friend, he would never have been allowed to share a room with me. I don’t sleep in such close quarters with friends! In the seventeen years we have been married, he has seen me at my best and worst. He sees parts of my personality that my friends don’t see since they don’t live with me. I tell Brett things that I would never tell a friend. I have a trust with Brett that I don’t have with anyone else in my life. Brett has spent countless hours showing me that he is my safe place and I can trust him with anything on my heart or mind. There is nothing I can ever do that would cause him to stop loving me. He promised to love me no matter what and has kept that promise over and over.
As the bride of Christ, we have the privilege of knowing that we can talk to our groom about whatever is on our mind. We can be confident whatever we tell him will be safe with him. We never have to wonder if Christ will reject us if we admit something embarrassing or even something we did that was completely wrong. Christ will always listen to us, and then show us the truth. He will always show us truth with nothing but love, never ever shame. As the bride of Christ we can feel safe because we now live with him not only in our house, but in our most intimate rooms- in fact he is closer to you than you can even comprehend, but that is another post!
As a wife, I have even more access to Brett than the kids do. Sometimes I will need to talk to him about something important. If the kids come and want his attention, he will tell them that they have to wait because he is talking to me. I hold an even more important role to Brett than the kids, his friends, or anyone else in his life. He does things for me because he loves me and wants to help make my life better. Likewise, I do things for him because I love him and I want to make his life as easy as possible. We are a team and rely on each other for support, both physically and emotionally.
As the bride of Christ, we do things for Christ because we love him. We are no longer forced as a servant is. We do things for him simply because we love and respect him. Likewise, Christ does things for you because he loves you and wants to make your life as awesome as possible. He isn’t paying you back for doing good like a master would to a servant. He is not repaying you in kindness as a friend would. He gives you good things simply because he loves you so very much!
According to Ephesians how does God see his bride?
Ephesians 5:25-27 and 32 (ESV) “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” “This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.”
God desires to present us as perfect, “without spot or wrinkle.” In fact he already sees you as perfect, “without spot or wrinkle.” He washes us with his word and sanctifies us. Remember that Jesus thinks you were worth dying for. He values you more than you can imagine, and he wants to be as intimate with you as a husband and wife are with each other. So go sit with God and tell him what is on your mind. Know that he is completely safe to share anything and everything with. Nothing you can ever do or ever have done will change the way he sees you because he sees you “without spot or wrinkle.”
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