We The Bride

When Jesus referred to Himself as the bridegroom, and His disciples as the bride, He established a pattern for us to follow. Paul describes it this way:

"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish." - Ephesians 5:25-27

What does that mean for us in today's world? Well, there are a few ideas right there in Paul's words. Jesus wants us sanctified, cleansed, spotless and holy.

Jesus already took care of the "spotless" part through His death on the cross for our sins, but we need to do the rest. We need to become sanctified. How? By the washing of water with God's Word. That means we not only need to read the Bible, but we also need to apply it to our lives. That process will make us holy and without blemish.

Have you placed your faith in Jesus? Do you read the Bible daily? As often as you wash yourself? Are you learning and growing in your faith? It's a constant process.

So many "Christians" believe that if they go to church and do good things, that's all they need, according to Ephesians 5:22

"Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord." - Ephesians 5:22

The key word there is "submit." That means we are to follow all of God's commands. All that Jesus said and did is our guidebook for navigating our way through this crazy world and making it to the wedding feast when Jesus returns for us, His bride.

"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." - Revelation 19:7

We need to be ready and waiting for Jesus to return, washing white by the reading and application of His Words. We also need to be undefiled by this world we live in. Satan runs this world and we are in it but we are not to become part of it.

We are to be holy (set apart).

"But while they (the unprepared virgins) were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut." - Matthew 25:10

Don't get locked out of the wedding feast. The location of your eternity depends on it.