Post by Betty on Mar 31, 2005 5:45:05 GMT -5
His bride has prepared herself (Revelation 17:11,
NLT).
Dear friends:
The wedding guests had gathered in the church,
and the minister, a close friend of the bride's
family, had entered, followed by the groom and his
attendants.
Bridesmaids floated down the aisle, and then a
hush swept over the audience as the bride and her
father stepped toward the altar.
When the minister asked, "Who giveth this woman
to be married to this man?" the girl's father
said, "I do."
Then a surprising thing happened. The minister
stepped aside, and the girl's father, who was
himself a minister, took the place of authority, and
conducted the ceremony. That father's double
expression of authority laid an unusually solid
groundwork for commitment between the bride and the
groom.
Brides and marriages are very important to God.
In fact, His holy Word refers to the church, or
believers, as the bride of Christ (2 Corinthians
11:1-2, Revelation 19:7, etc., NLT).
Before we betroth ourselves to Him, the Holy
Spirit first introduces us (1 Corinthians 12:3)
because our heavenly Father wants us to know His Son.
Our Father even sets up the introduction! (John
6:44). This is an example of the amazing and
complimentary interactions of the Trinity. The
Father is also there to witness the betrothal of His
Son as we say, "I do," or "I will" to our Lord
Jesus.
Miracle of miracles, even though we come to Him
as less than a perfect bride, because of our sins,
He removes our blemishes and makes us a chaste
bride, by His grace. "He did this to present her
to himself as a glorious church without a spot or
wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will
be holy and without fault" (Ephesians 5:27, NLT).
God says, "Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18, NIV).
We are cleansed not by our good works or good
intentions, but only by Jesus' blood, our heavenly
spot remover.
Just as a satisfying marriage relationship can be
built only on the basis of total commitment to
each other, so a fulfilling relationship with
Christ can be built only on total commitment to Him.
An earthly bride should love, honor and obey her
husband. Once betrothed and committed, we
should also love honor and obey our heavenly and
eternal bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ, who saved
us by His grace.
Yours for helping to fulfill the Great Commission
each year until our Lord returns,
Bill Bright
NLT).
Dear friends:
The wedding guests had gathered in the church,
and the minister, a close friend of the bride's
family, had entered, followed by the groom and his
attendants.
Bridesmaids floated down the aisle, and then a
hush swept over the audience as the bride and her
father stepped toward the altar.
When the minister asked, "Who giveth this woman
to be married to this man?" the girl's father
said, "I do."
Then a surprising thing happened. The minister
stepped aside, and the girl's father, who was
himself a minister, took the place of authority, and
conducted the ceremony. That father's double
expression of authority laid an unusually solid
groundwork for commitment between the bride and the
groom.
Brides and marriages are very important to God.
In fact, His holy Word refers to the church, or
believers, as the bride of Christ (2 Corinthians
11:1-2, Revelation 19:7, etc., NLT).
Before we betroth ourselves to Him, the Holy
Spirit first introduces us (1 Corinthians 12:3)
because our heavenly Father wants us to know His Son.
Our Father even sets up the introduction! (John
6:44). This is an example of the amazing and
complimentary interactions of the Trinity. The
Father is also there to witness the betrothal of His
Son as we say, "I do," or "I will" to our Lord
Jesus.
Miracle of miracles, even though we come to Him
as less than a perfect bride, because of our sins,
He removes our blemishes and makes us a chaste
bride, by His grace. "He did this to present her
to himself as a glorious church without a spot or
wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will
be holy and without fault" (Ephesians 5:27, NLT).
God says, "Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18, NIV).
We are cleansed not by our good works or good
intentions, but only by Jesus' blood, our heavenly
spot remover.
Just as a satisfying marriage relationship can be
built only on the basis of total commitment to
each other, so a fulfilling relationship with
Christ can be built only on total commitment to Him.
An earthly bride should love, honor and obey her
husband. Once betrothed and committed, we
should also love honor and obey our heavenly and
eternal bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ, who saved
us by His grace.
Yours for helping to fulfill the Great Commission
each year until our Lord returns,
Bill Bright
