We are the Bride of Christ!
WE are the BRIDE of CHRIST!
Paul describes the bride of Christ as “a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing”
(Ephesians 5:27).
JESUS WANTS THE BEST FOR HIS BRIDE-THE CHURCH BODY!
How it must break the Lord’s heart when we question His ability and desire to do the best for us!
The Bible for example, tells us clearly how the Lord took wonderful, care of Ruth. Ruth pledged her love to Jehovah God and told Naomi, her mother-in-law: “Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God” (Ruth 1:16).
God loved Ruth and opened up every door for her. She was poor and had to glean in the fields, but Scripture says, “She happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz . . .” (Ruth 2:3).
When Ruth Went Out into the fields, God provided for her.
If you are waiting for God to provide, consider this: He may be waiting for you to take the First step to demonstrate just how important your need is.
Ruth task was tough, tiring, & perhaps not a custom to that type of work, but she did it faithfully.
*What is your attitude when the task you have been given is not up to your true potential?
**The task at hand may be all you can do,
** or it may be the work God wants you to do.
**Or, as in Ruth’s case, it may be a test of your character that can open doors of opportunity.
Not only did Ruth take the initiative to work, she worked hard.
There are times when hard work with little rest is our only option.
* Boaz noticed Ruth’s hard work. Had she considered herself too proud or embarrassed to work that particular job, she would have missed the opportunity of meeting Boaz, changing her life, & becoming the ancestor of a king and Messiah.
Boaz gladly welcomed Ruth, because she was hard working, loving, kind & brave.
These qualities gained her a good reputation, but only because she displayed them consistently in all areas of her life.
Where ever Ruth went or whatever she did, her character remained the same. **Your reputation is formed by the people who watch you at work, in town, at home, in church.
** A good reputation comes by consistently living out the qualities you believe in no matter what group of people our surroundings you are in.
Boaz saw Ruth in the fields and
immediately discerned, “She’s different, really different.” His heart was
captured!
What a love story and what incredible circumstances brought it all about. Ruth
married this godly man, and if the Lord would do that for Ruth, Will He not do
right by His own bride, in EVERY circumstance?
We have Someone who is richer and mightier than Boaz. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He knows all and can do all and He loves His bride!
***Yes, the Lord works Everything in your life for YOUR absolute Best. And He takes great pleasure in doing so.
Even in suffering and trials, every lover of Jesus gets His full attention!
*Yet, sadly, we often do not Rest in that. *We doubt He is on the job at all
times, working out all things to our good.(Ro. 8:28).
Paul describes the bride of Christ as “a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing”
(Ephesians 5:27). “Wrinkle” here means “fold,” as on one’s face—a wrinkled brow.
This speaks of worry, fretting, and Paul is saying that Jesus’ bride will have no “worry lines” on her face.
*The bride of Christ Rests in Jesus love.
*The Bride of Christ is confident-Jesus knows where she is, how she feels, what she is going through, and what is best for her.
* Jesus love gives her peace and calm. *She knows He will not allow anything that will cut her off from Him or hurt her.
* Jesus is going to preserve her because He said, “She’s mine!”
The light of revelation is shining as a beacon of understanding to reveal your own heart. You can’t do anything about what you cannot see. But, when the light comes you will be able to see your thoughts, emotions, desires and will more completely and make adjustments where necessary. The Lord is calling you to Himself to be the Bride without spot or wrinkle, and this is a time of preparation.
“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25).
**This is what it means when Jesus laid down His life for His bride. This is what it means when Paul said: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (Eph 5:25-28).
This principle is key to impacting the world for Jesus Christ.
* The family has been greatly wounded by a failure to understand this principle. *This has also led men and women to become slaves instead of sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father.
Today, if you are a husband, commit yourself to laying down your life for your bride.
*We are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Corin. 5:20-21
The best way to know if you’re grown in faith is to ask yourself if you look more like Jesus.
See to it that you are not harboring any offenses or bitterness in your heart so that there are no divisions among you.
Division will hinder your walk with the Lord and keep you stuck in the flesh instead of walking in the Spirit.
You need to be free, but you cannot attain that liberty until you truly forgive and release others.
Don’t let another day go by allowing this judgment to stand.
1 Corinthians 3:3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
Lord, thank You for Your Church the Bride of Christ. Help us ALL to go out and Boldly proclaim the Love You have for ALL people. Let others see Jesus in an through us as the Body of Christ. Let the divisions be no more! Let us Lift up Jesus in Unity for Your Glory and our Joy. Amen