Love and Marriage - Christ Awaits His Bride...

“For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ"  (II Corinthians 11:2)

The Apostle Paul  was enamored with Christ and understood the position of trust that had been bestowed on him with regards to His church. He established and nurtured many congregations throughout Asia minor, often referring to them with heartfelt terms of endearment.

Paul also talks extensively about the bride as it relates to the New Testament church. In Ephesians 5:25-27, Paul exhorts husbands to, “...love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.” 

Wedding customs in the Bible centered on two events:  the betrothal and the wedding. 

On the day of the wedding, the bride dressed in white, elaborately embroidered robes, bedecked herself with jewels, and put on a veil. The bridegroom, attended by friends and accompanied by musicians and singers, went to the bride’s house. After receiving her from her parents, and with their blessing, he conducted the whole wedding party back to his own house. On the way other friends of the bride and groom joined the party with much music and dancing. A feast was held at the bridegroom’s house. Later in the evening, the bride’s parents escorted her to the nuptial chamber where the bridegroom was waiting. Festivities often lasted for several days.

In the Jewish marriage contract there were promises the bridegroom would make to his future bride.

The contract also stated the price he would pay to obtain her. If she agreed, the bridegroom would hand her a cup of wine. If she drank from the cup, the marriage was sealed and they became legally married. He would then say to her, “I will not drink of this cup until we are reunited.”  Jesus Himself said in Matthew 26:29, “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

Jesus performed His first miracle in Cana of Galilee at the wedding of a close relative. 

Jesus was there with His mother, other family members and His disciples (John 2:1-10).  When the servants attending to the feast made it known to His mother that the wine had run out, she in turn approached her son and said, “They have no wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother then told the servants to do whatever He asked. Jesus did eventually intervene on the host’s behalf and miraculously, the six large water-pots, each containing twenty to thirty gallons of water, became filled with wine. The master of the feast then commended the bridegroom for saving the best wine for the end, unlike most weddings, which served inferior wine at the end of the festivities.

For Believers - the New Covenant represents the marriage covenant that will never be broken.  

The New Covenant was sealed with the precious shed blood of Jesus Christ on Calvary.  Jesus gathered with the apostles during His last Passover meal, and as He shared with them the cup and bread, it symbolized the sacrifice He would willingly make to redeem mankind.

In the book of Revelation, John, the beloved also wrote about Christ and His bride [the Church]. He writes, “And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!  Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready"  Revelation 19:6-9.

So what does a wedding have to do with you and me?

We are the Bride of Christ - the Church.  Individually we are to make ourselves ready for the Bridegroom. We shall be holy and blameless when we stand before Him.  We will not have spot or wrinkle.  Pray that God will prepare us for that day and bring conviction upon His Church for our spirit of indifference and apathy.  Lord Jesus, make us a bride ready for her grand entrance...

Fun Facts:  Why are May and June traditional months for getting married?

It seems in days past that getting married in the late spring had more to do with a bride being "fresh" while the temperatures had not yet reached their summer peak.  Prior to the nineteenth century, daily or weekly bathing was not the norm.  Carrying flowers added a colorful burst and a welcome fragrance for the groom. Additionally, since April frequently brought much precipitation, May and June were dryer months and much cooler than July or August. Thus began the trend of nuptials being held during May and June.

Deborah is the author of a Christian non-fiction book titled “Mission Possible”. It is written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their spouse doesn’t share their passion.  It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together. 

Visit  http://www.spirituallyunevenmarriage.com

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Love and Marriage - Christ Awaits His Bride...

Prince Charming or a Frog?

Do you ever look at your spouse and think, “Aren’t I supposed to end up with a Prince Charming? Isn’t that what fairy tales are all about?”

Whatever happened to hopes and dreams and ideals? Did we really think we’d end up living in a make believe world? Were our expectations unrealistic when we said, “I do”? Short of being swept away by a knight in shining armor – I’d say many of us would settle for the frog, as long as we had a chance of having it turn into a prince, right?

The world collectively held its breath as we watched the pageantry of the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. We anxiously waited for the magic kiss as they stepped onto the palace balcony before thousands of loyal subjects, eager to share in their marital bliss.

Let’s get real here… most of us will never marry a prince, much less see one. But there is a subtle parallel between a famous fairy tale and the fact that we are royalty – daughters of the King of Kings.

In the story The Frog Prince, by the Brothers Grimm, we have a recital of love in an unlikely pairing.  The tale began when the young princess took a walk by herself in the woods and rested by a cool spring of water. She had a particular golden ball which she favored as a play toy, and as she was tossing it into the air and catching it, the ball rolled into the water. Crying, she lamented that she would give everything up – her fine clothes, jewels, and all her riches in order to have it back again.

While she was speaking, a frog’s head emerged out of the water and inquired as to reason for her weeping. She was startled by his presence and with distain she said, “Alas! What can you do for me, you nasty frog? My golden ball has fallen into the spring.”


The frog merely stated that he was not interested in her riches, but if she would love him, and allow him to reside with her, eat with her and sleep in her bed chambers, he would retrieve her prized toy. She agreed and the frog dove into the water and came up with the ball in his mouth, placing it onto the edge of the spring.


As it happened, when the princess saw her golden ball, she ran to pick it up, forgetting all about the frog and his honorable deed. The next day, as she sat down to dinner, she heard a strange noise – as if something was gently knocking at the door. It was the frog! He said:

“Open the door, my princess dear; open the door to thy true love here!

And mind the words that thou and I said,
by the fountain cool, in the greenwood shade.”

The King, her father, seeing that something was wrong, asked her what it was. “There is a nasty frog at the door,” she said, “that lifted my ball for me out of the spring yesterday morning.” “I told him he should live with me here, thinking that he could never get out of the spring; but here he is – waiting at the door.”

The king said to the young princess, “As you have given your word – so you must keep it; so go and let him in.” She obliged her father the king and opened the door. The frog hopped into the room, then up to the table where he insisted on sitting next to her to share in her meal. Afterwards, he asked to be carried upstairs to be put into her bed. At daylight, the frog disappeared. Thinking that he was gone for good, she resumed her day.

But she was sadly mistaken; for when night came again, she heard the same strange noise as the day before. Tap, tap on the door and the same plea as before. Again she let the frog accompany her to the dinner table and upstairs to bed. And as before, at day break, the frog disappeared once more. The third night repeated the whole scenario – right down to the frog laying its head on her pillow.

When the princess awoke on the following morning she was astonished to see, instead of the frog, a handsome prince, gazing on her with the most beautiful eyes she had ever beheld, as he stood at the head of her bed. He told her that he had been enchanted by a spiteful fairy, which had changed him into a frog. His fate had been to remain a frog until such time as a princess should take him out of the spring, and let him eat from her plate, and sleep upon her bed for three nights.

“You,” said the prince, “have broken this cruel charm, and now I have nothing to wish for but that you should go with me into my father’s kingdom, where I will marry you, and love you as long as you live.”

The young princess was not long in saying ‘Yes’ to all this; and as they spoke, a stunning coach drove up, with eight beautiful horses, decked with a golden harness and plumes of feathers. The king gave his blessing and they departed for the prince’s kingdom, where they lived happily ever after.

So – did I miss something here? What about the princess placing a well-planted kiss on the frog’s lips? Maybe that was another fable – but nonetheless – there is a moral to this story: Next time there’s a frog at your doorway – you might want to let him in! No, seriously; let’s look at this story from another prospective: Who is your prince charming? Should we really put that weight on the shoulders of our husband, or someone else who can handle the weight of the whole world?

There is a Prince [Charming], who not only laid His life down for you, but who also wants to spend eternity with you in His Father’s Kingdom. It isn’t any ordinary kingdom – but a place where the streets are pure gold and precious gems line the walls of the Celestial metropolis. There are mansions dotting the landscape and a crystal clear river running through it. Jesus Christ Himself prepared this place for us and He will usher in His Bride to their everlasting abode.

Our Prince knocks at the door of our hearts – waiting for the invitation to dine with us and abide with us. He desires fellowship with us; that we might enjoy the closeness He has with His Father. We are unaware of His beauty until we behold His Face and gaze into His loving eyes.

Make haste and kiss the Son. He is your Prince of Peace and King of the universe. He who cherishes His betrothed will come for her soon. Say “Yes” to His proposal and receive the blessing of His Father. You can live happily ever after for all eternity with Jesus Christ.

 (Ref:  John 14:1-3; Revelation 3:20; Revelation 21-22)  

Deborah is the author of a Christian non-fiction book titled “Mission Possible”. It is written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their spouse doesn’t share their passion. It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together.

http://www.Godmissionpossible.com 

Prince Charming or a Frog?