The Bridegroom

 Mike, Lisa, Sherri and I have been having morning devotions together since we got to Florida. Sherri has been leading our devotions. We have enjoyed reading the scripture, listening to the words of one song which speaks about our topic, listening to a short devotion message that Sherri reads and praying and adoring Jesus for the particular characteristic that we focus on for the day. 

Today we adored and praised Him for being our Bridegroom. We are his bride, and we are to live pure and holy lives. In the biblical times a bride groom journeyed to the house of his bride. It didn’t matter how far away she lived he came to her. There were no phones or means of long distance communication in those days, so the bride and the wedding party didn’t know when the groom would arrive. They had to be ready for the moment when he finally arrived. But the point we focused on was that the groom journeyed to wherever his bride was because he loved her so much. He may have to travel miles across the desert or climb over rough, steep terrain, even run the risk of meeting robbers who would try to kill him, but still he came to his bride. The bride did not try to come to him, she just patiently waited and she was ready when he came. 

We must note the real significance to the parable about the bridegroom and the bride.  Jesus is the Bridegroom and the bride is the church. The bride is all those who have believed that Jesus is the Son of God and have committed their lives to follow him. Jesus left his place on his throne in heaven and traveled to us, sinful men and women to the love of his heart, the church, you and me. He accepted the place of humility for his bride. He came to be poor, meek, lowly, despised, persecuted and finally to die, all because he loved his bride. His journey was hard. His journey was filled with danger and he accepted this reality because he loved his bride. 

Now another thing we must know is that the bride can not go to him. We cannot do a single thing to bring him to us or help him come to us. All we can do is wait and be ready when he comes, watch for him, and open the door when he knocks. We can only see him through our spiritual eyes. It is as though we are looking through a small window to see him and the joy of each day that he brings to us. There is beauty and glorious wonder for those of us who have opened that door and let him in. Satan will do every thing he can to darken that window so that all we see is doom and gloom. 

Let me express something that some of you may not like. It’s about the election. Many of you are so blinded by the results of the election that you cannot see what is truly important. You continue to refuse the joy that Jesus wants you to have because you are so consumed by hate for the Republicans or the Democrats. You continue to have disdain for President Biden or former President Trump. You are foolish to allow Satan to blot out the joy and peace that you should have in your hearts if you truly belong to the Bridegroom. The messages that some of you spew out are nothing but evil darkness that come straight from hell. Friends, bride of Christ, you are better than that. The Bible says that if you are in Christ Jesus you are more than conquerors. That means that you are super conquerors. You are overcomers. You, through the power of the Holy Spirit, are able to defeat the evil one every time he comes along to steal your joy, your peace, and your Christian influence. We are to be like Jesus, not like Satan. 

Remember, the Bridegroom traveled a great distance at a great price to be with you, his precious bride. He came because he loves you so much.