A Radiant Bride

I clearly remember our wedding day, just like anyone else who has been married. But the highlight of that day was my first sight of my wife to be. I had always found her to be beautiful, but never had I seen her as she was that day. She had done everything she could to prepare herself for the big day, and she looked absolutely amazing. What really touched me was that she had made herself so beautiful for me.

Have you noticed how people who know they are loved, and know they are wanted, seem to shine? They radiate an inner beauty. It is a wonderful thing to know that you are desired and admired by someone and it brings out a loveliness from deep within.

Jesus made it clear that we belong to Him. Think about that. The Lord Himself wants us to be with Him. Jesus says that He is preparing a home for us in heaven (just as a groom in His days would prepare a home for his bride). He says that He is coming back for us, so that we can live with Him. While we are on earth, a married couple say that they will live and do life together for the rest of their earthly lives. But Jesus says He wants to live together with us forever.

The theme of the bride and the bridegroom runs all the way through the Bible and is heavily emphasised in Scripture in relation to the great day of the Lord’s return, when He comes to take us to live with Him. You may be married, single, divorced or widowed, but for all of us the same is true: we all belong to Jesus. We are His Bride, currently betrothed (engaged) to Him and living in anticipation of His return. All this means that He really, truly wants us.

With this in mind, what a privilege it is to get ourselves ready for meeting Him. And, thankfully (for guys like me), it’s not about putting on nice make-up and doing our hair. The Lord loves a heart that is devoted to Him. In anticipation of meeting Him, and in recognition of the fact that we already belong to Him, we prepare ourselves by purifying ourselves from sin. Realising that we are loved and wanted, motivates us to be our most desirable selves. Let us pursue pure and wholehearted devotion to Him who loves us more than we can ever believe or even imagine.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that I belong to You, that You want me and that one day I will fully be with You. Help me prepare myself for meeting with You. Help me to know Your love and desire for me and respond by being the best I can be, just out of love for You. Amen.