the place of Honour

Once again I was struck by what true love really is. It is astonishing. It makes you heart beat faster and takes your breath away. It was seen at a beautiful wedding this weekend, in a glance, a sweet kiss, a hand being held.

It was all said in there vows and reflected in the speeches. It wasn't about the stunning, radiant bride clothed in the purest white, her veil dancing in the wind, or the handsome young groom, his face shining with uncontainable joy as his beloved glided down the aisle. It was all about Jesus! 

Jesus sat in the place on honour. His name was gloried. 

[True love is not cheap, or easy, or about you, sex, money, whatever... It is counter-cultural in every single way: selfless, self-giving, self-sacrificing, as seen in the ultimate example of Jesus' innocent death on the cross to save a sinful, undeserving, rebellious world...]

They said things like, together they could better serve the Lord, together they could better minister to the world, together they could better fulfil the Great Commission. They spoke of how their wedding feast was just a glimpse of the majestic banquet to come - a shadow...

One day, Jesus Christ would return for His bride, the church. If you have been washed by His blood, cleansed by the cross, forgiven and made new, you would stand holy, blameless, pure before the Father - like a bride clothed in brilliant white. They spoke of how God has invited us to the the greatest wedding of all time... and how it says "Have you been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb?" Have you responded to the Gospel?!

How challenging. How encouraging. What an example! This is how it is meant to be...

"After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God... Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!... These are the true words of God." "

 {Rev 19:1, 7-9}