Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Gift to the Bride

The gift to the Bride
Read Isaiah 61
The big day has come. The Bride accepts her Bridegroom in eternal covenant.

8b “I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering    and make an everlasting covenant with them.” NLT

Her heart rejoices, she feels a freedom, joyous blessing, and festive praise, overwhelmed by His love. (61:10)
Today, she is honored. (61:9) She is honored by receiving beauty for ashes. (61:3) She is honored with gifts as well; all she could ever need for her new role as a wife. But there is one gift that matters most of all. This is the one that she is going to cherish and hold close to her heart.
The gift from her groom.
10 “I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God!    For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation    and draped me in a robe of righteousness.I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit    or a bride with her jewels.” NLT
Is that not the greatest gift of all? We, the Bride of Christ, get that great gift. That righteousness. He laid down His life in order that we might experience that overwhelming joy, rapt with the blessing and wonder of it all.
For when the Lord has blessed someone they are blessed indeed.
9 “Their descendants will be recognized    and honored among the nations.Everyone will realize that they are a people    the Lord has blessed.” NLT
One last thing, dear one. Would we be a gracious bride if we just sat there, soaking it all in?
A friend of mine, whose entire life in Christ displayed God’s love through service, was truly a gracious bride. At her wedding, she and her groom stood at the food table and they served the guests.
Service. Driven by love received. So, dear Bride, how are you being a gracious bride today?

Isaiah 61:11b “His righteousness {your gift from the Groom, remember?} will be like a garden in early spring,    with plants springing up everywhere.” NLT  
Hosea 10:12 “I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness,    and you will harvest a crop of love.Plow up the hard ground of your hearts,    for now is the time to seek the Lord,that he may come    and shower righteousness upon you.’” NLT 
Proverbs 11:18 b “The one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.” NIV 
James 3:18 “And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.” NLT

Share it! Serve. Scatter seeds everywhere you step, that plants of His Righteousness will spring up everywhere.




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