On being THE bride

Thirty years ago today, we said “I do.” We made a committment to love, honor, and cherish; to stand by each other for better or worse, richer or poorer, through sickness and health, good times and bad. Until death do us part.

I was a bride for one day, but as a Christian, I am part of the Bride of Christ every day . What does it mean to be the Bride of Christ? And how can we live each of our days in that identity?

What the Bride looks like:

When you imagine the Bride of Christ, what do you picture? A damsel clothed in white lace? Yet, the first person to declare Jesus to be the bridegroom was none other than John the Baptist.

“The bride belongs to the bridegroom.” John 3:29

These words spoken by John the Baptist open our eyes to a bride more rugged, truth-preaching and fierce than the delicate, frilly, and feminine damsel that’s widely depicted as the Bride. The Bride is not for women only. Christian men and women equally are the Bride.

The Betrothal: 

Being the bride is about living in the betrothal period of preparation for a wedding. There were so many things to take care of, my engagement was the only time in my life that I lost weight without trying. Although there is much work, it is a joyous labor when a bride remembers the love of and for the groom and the life they will enjoy together. Betrothal is a time of complete covenant commitment to each other and expectancy about the wedding and lifetime to come. As the Bride of Christ, do you live with such expectancy?

The Bridegroom:

The bridegroom is the bride’s protector, her security. In Bible times, the groom paid a dowry for his bride. Jesus paid more than a dowry, He paid a ransom for His bride because of His deep love for her. When I attend a wedding and the dum-dum-de-dum starts to play, all heads turn to the back to see the bride enter. But I always look to the front and watch the groom’s face when he sees his bride approach. His smile lights up the room. To think that Jesus will receive me with such a smile on His face fills me with joy overflowing. I love how Psalm 36:5-9 reads in the Message translation:

“God’s love is meteoric, his loyalty astronomic, …  How exquisite your love, O God! How eager we are to run under your wings, … ” 

“Say ‘yes’ to the dress.”:

In a crowded reception, can you pick out the Bride? Always – because of her garment. According to Rev. 19:6-8, the bride is arrayed in  fine white linen, symbolizing the pure, holy and the righteous deeds of the saints. Our garment is the outer evidence of our inner person, our decisions, actions, thoughts. And by the way, nowhere does the Bible actually describe the garment as a “dress.” It says the bride is “arrayed” or “clothed” in fine “linen which is the righteous acts of the saints.” Righteous acts include obedience to God’s commandments and continually striving to follow Jesus’ perfect example. So men can wear the garment too!

Our attitude: 

There’s a tv show called “Bridezillas”. According to the dictionary:

Bridezilla: noun. Formed from blending of the words bride and Godzilla (Japanese movie monster). Used to describe a woman whose behavior becomes outrageously bad in the course of planning for her wedding; a bride-to-be who focuses so much on the event that she becomes difficult and obnoxious

We become “Bridezillas” when “it’s ALL about ME!”  What do I want? Our prayers are about what WE think is best. We get disappointed or disillusioned if things don’t go our way. We need to remember we are betrothed, redeemed, preparing, and waiting with eager anticipation for our Groom. It’s not about us. It’s about Him.

So let’s live every day with a committment to love, honor, and cherish our Lord; to stand with Him for better or worse, richer or poorer, through sickness and health, good times and bad. Until death do us see each other face to face.

Last but not least – Happy Anniverary, honey!!! So thankful for the godly husband and father that you are, for the 30 wonderful years we’ve had together and the many more to come!!