"In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling." (Exodus 15:13)
For all the Ladies,
Sometimes I think what Christianity would be like if we were to truly fall in love with Jesus. Think of how falling in love feels, or what it looks like from the outside. Often we take lightly that the church is considered the Bride of Christ. Think of a wedding, in all of its glory and beauty. I imagine a beautiful church, complete with stain glass windows and sunlight streaming in. All of the guests are dressed for the occasion, candles are flickering. Elegant flowers decorate the sanctuary, the pastor stands at the altar, and by his side, glowing with expectancy, is the bridegroom. His hands are clasped, fidgeting from nerves, and he sways ever so slightly waiting for the grand moment. He feels as if he may burst when, suddenly, music pours throughout the sanctuary, and every guest stands. The bridegroom is now smiling more than he may have ever smiled in his life. Everyone turns, and the doors slowly open, and there stands possibly the most bittersweet moment ever to pass. It is the father and the bride. She seems to bring even more sunlight to the room, and his heart seems to be both overjoyed and broken at the same time. They slowly make their way down the aisle, the bride and groom have locked eyes and both are breathless. The father turns to give his daughter a kiss, tears in her eyes and in his. And here is the moment we pause, for the vows begin. Vows to love unconditionally, forever, to love sacrificially, to love without limits. As the pastor announces them man and wife, the bridegroom turns to his bride and whispers,
"I am enthralled by your beauty. (Psalm 45:11) You are a lily among thorns. (Song of Solomon 2:2) Many waters cannot quench our love, neither can floods drown it. (Song of Solomon 8:7) I love you, as only I can love the church, and gave myself up for you, that I might sanctify you, having cleansed you by the washing of water with the word, so that I might present you to myself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that you may be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5:25-27)
Think of the most breathtakingly (is that a word?) romantic evening you can picture, then try to grasp that Christ is dying to romance you. He is dying to sweep you off your feet, to delight in everything about you for ETERNITY! Not for as long as you shall live, but eternity! The most glorious part is, He already does. He already paints the sky for you, and dances in the rain with you, and carries you when you're hurting. Jesus desires nothing more than for you to fall in love with Him, too. He is the perfect gentleman and will never push you. He will simply wait in the boat for you, and when you get in, He longs for nothing more than to lavish His perfect love upon you. The only catch is, you have to get in the boat, you can't stand on the docks, or put only one leg in the boat, you must get in and sail away forever with Him. To be romanced by God is to be romanced by the designer of romance. I think of the story of the woman from Bethany who broke her alabaster box at the feet of Jesus. She then took her mostly costly possession, perfume, her dowry, and poured it on His head. The men there questioned her ridiculous notions, but the God of the universe hushed them, and said this woman had done right. "Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me" (Mark 14:6) hypothetically, she was in love with the King of Kings. She took the gift she had for her future husband, and gave it to Jesus. Love is a beautiful thing, and I think the best love we could ever imagine is only found in Christ. Discover yourself falling in love with the one who knit you together in your mother’s womb! (Psalm 139). When someone falls in love, it is almost as part of them is lost in the other person, the lovely thing about falling in love with Christ is that you can fall madly, totally, unspeakably in love with him, but He will never leave you or forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5) For Jesus is not just a gentleman, but a warrior, a warrior who gave his life for the one He loved with such vigor and passion, you. He is dying to just have the chance to take a sunset walk with you, ocean crashing in the distance, lean in and to whisper to you, "Take heart, It is I, do not be afraid." (Matthew 14:27). Dare to be blown away by your creator.
Gentlemen,
You are called to be the warrior of the faith. You are to love your future and current wives, as Christ loves the church. If you are unmarried, you are to love your future wife even now. You are to love her when you are tempted, you are to love her when times get hard, you are to love her when you're with your girlfriend, you are to love her with an unconditional, forever, sacrificial, adventure kind of love. Pursue the heart of Christ, the heart of a servant, a warrior, and a true gentleman. Redeem your future bride.
He said "Who are you?" And she answered, "I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer. And he said, "May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I." (Ruth 3:9-12).
"At the wonderful, tragic, mysterious tree
On that beautiful, scandalous night you and me
Were atoned by His blood and forever washed white
On that beautiful, scandalous night"
Loving Christ,
Amber
