Devotional Blog - Sunday, January 8th

Daily Devotional for Sunday, January 8th

The Lord Desires Spotless Churches

Weddings are a big deal. They are especially a big deal for the Bride. A young lady set to get married spends months getting ready for the big day. The groom has his part, but that part is not that big these days. In Jewish culture if this time, the bridegroom’s responsibility was huge. When young man and woman became betrothed, the man returned to his father’s home and began to make a home for he and his bride ready. When that was ready, the bridegroom would return with great fanfare, claim his bride and take her to their new home. The bride was expected to be ready. She was expected to present herself in attire without spot, wrinkle or blemish.

In God’s Word, He purposefully uses earthly marriages to illustrate to us the nature or our relationship to our Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ. Conversely, He uses the relationship we have with Jesus to teach us how our marriages are to work. It is truly a wonderful linkage. Jesus, like an earthly groom has done His part, and is still doing His part. He loved us enough to give Himself for us, and now He is in Heaven preparing our place, so that we can live with Him eternally. When his Father says that place is ready, the Son will return for us, His bride.

Can you imagine the shock and dismay an earthly groom would feel to show up with great fanfare, only to find his betrothed bride in attire that was soiled and dirty? My friends, that particular wedding might not even take place. How will Jesus feel if He shows to take us home and finds his churches dirty and soiled, and seemingly not ready for they Bridegroom? We need to think on that.