The Bride
August 2010
I have a skeptic in my life that is antagonistic toward God, Jesus, the Bible, and the Church. As I pondered a series of harsh condemnations thrown at me one afternoon that poignantly pointed out the sins of believers throughout history, I remembered believers that judged other believers in the church, as well. My own judgments and condemnations of the Church surfaced as a reminder of my own sin. In the brevity of a second, I saw the sin of the Church through the eyes of an unbeliever to me, realizing my judgment is no different than the unbeliever. I cried out, “Father, how can this be?” In the quietness of my heart I heard, “Do you remember Hosea?”
“Yes, he is the one You made marry a harlot.”
“Hosea loved his bride because I commanded him to love her. Despite her sin and continuous propensity toward sin, he loved her. He loved her to demonstrate to Israel that I love her. Even though she sins and continues to pursue sin, I love her. I want you to love the Church in this way. She may have sin and at times, she may not be so pretty because of her choices, but she is my bride and I love her. Love her as I do.”
I suddenly felt like Peter when Jesus told him to love His sheep and Peter kept saying, “I like…” We like someone because of what he or she does for us. We love someone despite what he or she does to us. Has my love for the Church grown judgmental or cold? Do I love her despite all the sins that may abound within her? When the Father searches my heart, does He see someone that truly loves His bride simply because she is the bride of Christ? It is crazy how the LORD can use the condemnations of a skeptic to reveal to me the sin of lovelessness on my part toward His bride! What about you? Do you love the bride of Christ?
Simply, love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a).
How can the skeptics love the Groom if I do not love the bride?
Simply,
Tara
(Feel free to contact me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).)
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