Living Out the Mystery of Marriage Examining my own marriage in light of Christ and the church. By Bethany Vater
Christ's Community in Price Hill
Devotional Thoughts to Further Devotion
February 1, 2003
As I've been examining my own marriage and what a Bride of Christ should look like these thoughts have come to me. Am I reflecting in my own marriage the qualities God is looking for in The Bride of Christ? Does my marriage give testimony to God's love? Am I a place of refuge for my spouse or am I a place of great difficulty? Our most intimate relationships need to be in order for the rest of our lives to function correctly. The Bride has to be intimate with the Groom in more than just her thoughts. The Groom is wooing His Bride but there has to be an act of unity to produce new life. Am I willing to sacrifice my own desires to do whatever it takes to please my Groom? There must be authority and submission to fulfill God's purpose in the marriage. Am I willing to submitted to someone when I can't see the benefit I might get out of it? Have I been serving myself instead of my Groom? Have I become so concerned with my own desires that I have forgotten the desires of my Groom? I've been to many weddings and had opportunity to see the Bride behind the scene. I've seen all kinds of brides. There are fearful brides afraid of commitment or making a mistake. Prideful brides looking for praise because of their wealth or beauty. The selfish bride who expect everyone to drop what they're doing and cater to her desires. Angry brides who are angry because things aren't going their way. I've also seen the bride who is in love. She is the bride that makes your heart rejoice. Yet I believe God is looking for a mature bride one who can balance the intimate relationship with the Groom and still take care of the family and produce new life through her unity with the Groom. When we connect The Song of Solomon and Proverbs 31 we get an overall picture of what God is looking for in His Bride. --by Bethany Vater |
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