Skip to main content

The Groom and His Bride

Just had the privilege to see a mighty man of God going to visit his beloved in the hospital.  He had just been buzzed in the door to ICU, and was headed to see  his bride.  In his eyes and voice were two undeniable emotions.  The love for his sweet bride was piercing, even in just a few brief moments.  His heartache over her illness and desire to see her restored to health was just as transparent.

God immediately showed me a picture of Himself and His love and concern for HIS bride, the church.  His love for her is undeniable.  Who else would die for the bride but someone who was enamored with her and is willing to sacrifice whatever necessary for her to be His, to thrive, and to survive? He is passionate about her.  He knows what is in her best interest.  He tarries and hovers and cares for her.  He protects and guards her.  
He is heart broken over her illnesses.  When she hurts he hurts. What illnesses you ask?  Apathy.  Prayerlessness.  Shut-ins.  Low blood flow.  Legalistic.  Callousness.  Lack of Biblical knowledge.  Lack of forgiveness.  The list goes on and on.  There are many illnesses the Bride of Christ is exposed and at risk of contracting.  His desire is to be her first love, and to have her so engrossed in His presence there is no room for illness to set in.  

The picture of the husband having to ask permission to get in the door to be present with his wife is a stark warning for us.  What has the Bride of Christ set up as deterrents for the Bridegroom being present in Her life?  We have limited His freedom to enter in.  We have set policies, procedures, and programs ahead of His presence.  We have legalism instead of liberty.  We cling to what we can see and what we can measure instead of what only He can do by being free to move about the body as He sees fit.  The Groom should not have to ask permission to be in the room with His Bride.

I think this picture was so vivid to me for a few of reasons.  One, I missed being able to worship with my church family this week.  I love that I missed it.  I love that it is a priority.  I love most that I missed that special time with Him.  Personal worship is a priority, but there is just something special about the Bride coming together.  Secondly, I also admire this man I saw today greatly.  I love his heart.  It reminds me of Christ's heart for His people. Not a far leap for God to use that picture as a reminder of His heart which loves on an infinitely deeper level than we can fathom, even in Godly men.  And lastly, just life.  Sometimes God just needs to remind us of His heart for us, and His desire to be present.  What do I add to my congregation or the Bride as a whole?  Do I allow God to use me as a clean heart to enter into His presence or am I putting up roadblocks? Am I allowing Him to move freely or limiting His access?  Do I fully understand and convey to others His love, care and concern for His people or do I just spit out easy cut and dry rote with no passion for who they are in His eyes and His heart?

Lord, let me be a part of the Bride of Christ who desperately desires Your presence above all else.  Allow me to see the potential for illness.  Not for the sake of blame or negativity, but rather for alert, warning, and passionately seeking You in truth.  Let me be a part of the health of the body.  Help me also not add to roadblocks for Your presence.  Thank You for Your picture of love today through the life of one of Your servants.  Bless he and his bride as well.  Be present Lord! Let Your Bride function in health, truth, and beauty.  Love us, cover us, and protect us as we pursue You passionately. 

Amen.

 http://psalms51ministries.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-groom-and-his-bride.html

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Miriam

Miriam was the big sister of Moses. Her name (sometimes rendered as Mary in English) means 'bitter' although it could also signify 'one who loves or is loved by Yahweh'. Yahweh means 'the self-existent one'. Yahweh is one of the ways the children of Israel referred to God. Meet the family Amram and Jochebed were the father and mother of Miriam, Aaron and Moses. Moses was the youngest of the three yet became the leader of the pack (Exodus 2:3-4; Exodus 6:20; Numbers 26:59). Moses was the man who led Israel out of Egypt. As the big sister of the family Miriam knew all the secrets. Women often get to know about things that men don't. When Pharaoh of Egypt decreed the death of all Israel baby boys in a desperate attempt to curb the growth of Israel, Amram and Jochebed put baby Moses into a waterproof basket and set it on the river in an attempt to save his life. It was Miriam who was watching the basket when the daughter of Pharaoh discovered it. It w...
Post a Comment
Read more

Feed My Sheep

Jesus Reinstates Peter John 21:15-20 New International Version (NIV) When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said,  “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said,  “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said,  “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him,  “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time,  “Do you love me?”  He said, “Lord, you know all things;  you know that I love you.” Jesus said,  “Feed my sheep.     Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”   Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Deborah

Deborah was a prophet, a leader (otherwise known as a Judge) in Israel as well as the wife of Lappidoth (Judges 4:4).  Deborah means 'bee'. Bees are responsible for pollination of flowering plants. Pollination is what creates seeds that grow into other plants. One third of the human food supply depends on insect pollination of plants and bees play a major role in this 1 . The biblical Deborah, like a bee, fulfilled an active and vital role in bringing life to the community. Background After the death of Joshua, the man who had led the Israelites into the land of Canaan, God raised up Judges to lead and rule Israel. The first Judges God used were Othniel, Ehud and Shamgar (Judges 3). And then came Deborah. In Deborah's day Israel had no overall leader. Everyone did whatever they pleased and the nation fell into sin and were oppressed by the Canaanites (Judges 21:25). Jabin was the Canaanite king during the era of Deborah. Sisera was the commander of Jabin's...
Post a Comment
Read more