Picture Scripture -- Bride (our response, now and later)
Scripture: Psalm 27:8, Song of Solomon 3:4, Ruth 1: 16-17; Revelation 21: 1-7
As you read today, take some time to journal your thoughts and any verse that is meaningful to you.
What a beautiful topic we've studied all week! There isn't much that is prettier to look at than pictures of brides and weddings, right? However, for some of us, these pictures of white and wedding days cause pain, hurt, and negative feelings. I want you to know that I understand those emotions. None of us plan our wedding day with any thought that the vows spoken could be broken, that we (the bride) could be taken advantage of, or that the commitment made would be discarded. I precede my writing with these words, because I want you all to know and understand that it's o.k. if the pictures from this week have caused an unpleasant reaction. God can handle your sadness and pain.
Today, though, we get to take the earthly groom out of the picture. We get to focus on our part of the marriage covenant that we (as believers) have made with our Heavenly groom who never fails, He will not break His promises, and He chooses (every, single day) to love us perfectly.
My favorite portion of the wedding vows are words taken from Ruth. I want to include them here even though you read them on your own:
But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me." Ruth 1:16-17
Do you hear the determination there? These words symbolize the commitment your Heavenly Groom has made to you. You can't say anything or do anything that will make Him change His mind. He loves you with an everlasting love, and not even death will separate you from Him. That truth, sisters, should change the way we all view the pictures of our brides. And, it should definitely change the way we think about our response to this great love.
Join me in spending some time thinking about how you'll respond to the vows your Groom has made. I believe the only thing we can do is bow in humility and thanksgiving and ask for His guidance to show us how to reply. Would you do that today? Use your journal to document some "vows" you believe the Lord would have you make to Him in return. Then, thank Him that He is the initiator and the completer of everything. He is the One that will see it through to completion. Celebrate with your Groom today. :)
Heavenly Father, thank you for you perfect and unending love. We are amazed by the commitment You've made to us. There are no words that could adequately describe the gratitude one feels when we begin to understand the depth of your love. Today, I'm praying that you completely overwhelm each of us with Yourself. Open our eyes to see Your covenant to us in Jesus like never before. I praise you for the work I know you will do in each of our lives today as we spend dedicated time focusing on You. May the gratitude of our hearts lead to transformation in our lives.
