Good morning. I am in the early stages of working with one of our young couples for their upcoming wedding. For those getting married such preparations are a joy and a panic. They are often both satisfying and vexing. But this is certain, both bride and groom will do all they can to look their best. The “just right” gown will be chosen, as will the tux or suit. The right hairstyle, fingernails, and flowers, every detail is usually considered.
I have been blessed to perform a large number of weddings and every bride is beautiful.
Why? Why do couples go to such lengths in preparation for their big day? So their fiancée will marry them? Of course not! That has been decided and the commitment is secure. They don’t want to make all things as perfect as can be so that the other person will marry them, they do so because the other person is marrying them. It is a joy shared together, an indication of the promises being proclaimed,
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21:2
Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” Revelation 21:9
For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. Isaiah 54:5
There are many such references, both Old Testament and New, that use the metaphor the bride made ready for her husband while speaking of the Lord’s people.
How are we to look our best for our beloved, the Lord of Hosts? We need to be spiritually cleansed, which is the Lord’s work within us. We need to be dressed for the occasion, our attire identifying us and our intention. So, what do we wear?
It isn’t about wearing a cross around our neck or even about putting on our “Sunday go to meeting” garments. There is only one way to be dressed as the bride of Christ:
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ… Romans 13:14
For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Galatians 3:27
To be the properly attired Bride of Christ there is only one way to dress and prepare, we need to “put on Christ”, and be “clothed with Christ”.
Patience, forgiveness, kindness, and love, those are but a few of the wonderful aspects of our Lord. Galatians 5:22-23, the Fruit of the Spirit passage shares more.
Vern