Getting Ready
by Peter Brokaar
There is nothing like seeing the big picture to help us in being excited about the everyday (and sometimes even mundane) aspects of our Christian life. When we can grasp the true, eternal context in which we live, everything we do suddenly becomes incredibly meaningful.
While we are here on earth, Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven. And while He is waiting for us in heaven, we are meant to prepare ourselves for meeting with Him in eternity. As today’s Scripture puts it, ‘the Bride has made herself ready’. It is in anticipation of that glorious event, which the Bible calls ‘The Marriage Supper of the Lamb’, that we seek to be all we can be, when we finally meet Jesus, face to face.
When a bride prepares for her wedding day, she might have a whole team of helpers to get her get ready. She wants to look as beautiful and desirable as possible, and together they do everything they can to present her in all her glory. This process of preparation is a great picture of the healing ministry. Together we can help people in getting ready to be that ‘pure, spotless Bride’ which Jesus said He longs for and waits for. We can clean up dirtiness, smooth our wrinkles and deal with all those things which prevent us from having the fullness of love and devotion which our Lord deserves.
Every healing prayer, each step forward in this process of sanctification, contributes to that great goal of getting the Lord’s bride ready. Sometimes this is hard work. At moments, this healing journey is even painful. But all of it is worth it, when we consider our eternal goal: to be with Jesus, the One who loves us and bought us with His own blood.
It is the certain hope of being in eternity which spurs us on towards pursuing holiness and wholeness. As it says in 1 John 3:3, ‘And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure’.
The Lord Himself has set His love on us and He passionately desires all of our hearts, all of our love, all of who we are. There can be things which hold us back from loving Him in return: traumas, fears, insecurities, and doubts. But together with Him, with the help of the Spirit of God, we can overcome these things and play a pro-active part in preparing the bride of Christ, of which every believer is a part.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You that we all are part of that Bride, and that you are preparing us for living with you in eternity. Please help me to get rid of everything which does not please You, so that I may be the best I can be, and so You can have all of my heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Peter Brokaar is Director of Ellel Ministries Scotland and has been there together with his wife Liz since 2005. They have 3 kids, all born in Scotland! In his free time he likes reading, cooking, running and surfing. Being at Ellel Scotland has given him the privilege of getting to know God deeper and sharing that joy with many others.
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