Becoming The Bride of Christ
By Jansyn Gordon
Can I let you in on a little secret? I’m getting married!!!! Okay, it’s not a secret at all. I flash my ring any chance I get, I can tell you the exact number of days until the wedding, and if I can squeeze in how I went to New York to get my dress at Kleinfeld’s—well, it’s been a great day.
Anyone who knows me knows I’m getting married. I’ve tried not to make it my entire personality, but I’m just so excited! And it feels even more special because everyone around me is excited too. There’s so much effort that goes into planning this special day, and like many girls, I’ve been dreaming about it and curating my Pinterest board for years.
Being engaged has truly been the best chapter of my life. And while I don’t want to complain, it has also been a lot of work. I’ve been gathering addresses, stuffing envelopes, contacting vendors, answering endless questions—the list goes on! But despite all the effort, it’s worth every bit because I’m marrying the man I prayed for.
After all, this is about the marriage, not just the wedding. A relationship that’s deep, intimate, and so important. It’s different from even your closest friendships and stirs emotions unlike anything else you feel for family. It’s a beautiful bond that I’m learning to appreciate more every day.
In the Bible, our relationship with Jesus is described as us being His bride. One of the first mentions of this is in Hosea 2:19:
"I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion."
Hosea 2:19 NLT
This imagery appears again in Mark and John. When you understand Jewish culture, the symbolism becomes even deeper. A man would leave his parents' home, travel to his bride, and pay the bride price, or dowry. Once she consented, the marriage contract was made, and she would be set apart for him. The bridegroom would then leave to prepare their marital home. Sound familiar? Jesus left Heaven to come to earth and pay the ultimate bride price by dying for our sins. He returned to Heaven and is preparing the perfect home for us to share with Him. Is there any greater example of unfailing love and compassion?
Reflecting on this made me realize—I'm putting so much effort into my wedding day, why wouldn’t I do the same for my relationship with Christ? I wouldn’t dream of showing up to my wedding with my hair undone, wearing a big T-shirt, and mumbling my vows. I want my makeup to be flawless, every hair perfectly in place, my gown beautifully tailored, and with clear conviction, I will declare my vows to my fiancé—because I LOVE him!
Our relationship with Jesus is a divine love story. He loves us unconditionally and desires us to seek Him—to be in His word, sing praises, and love others as He does. But, just like in Jewish culture, the covenant only exists with our consent. We, as the bride, must choose to accept this relationship.
I pray that this week, you will fall deeper in love with Jesus and spend intimate time with Him. He loves you and is preparing the ultimate home for you. As a bride would prepare herself for marriage, prepare your heart for Christ’s return.
