Marriage. We have talked thus far about “our” marriages, so enough of the analysis. Let’s look into the Lord’s Word. Let’s see what is in His heart. Let’s bring Him into our marriages instead of just bringing our marriages to Him. There is a difference. Let’s step back and start with God; not with our problems, not religion, not with something about God, but God.
We may know Bible verses that tell husbands to love and wives to submit, and that fathers shouldn’t make their children angry. But, let’s look further, not from the view of our need but from His need. Yes, God has a need. He has a need not in a sense of being weak, but in the sense He has a plan and has made Himself wonderfully vulnerable to us, His redeemed, created ones, we who have believed in Him. He has a need, out of His strength, that we respond to His romantic design for us, that we with Him will share, will co-habit His fulfilled purpose.
His need is precious, in that He has invested a living hope in us who believe, that we will respond to Him until we are so taken with Him that we match Him in life and nature. The marriage feast in Revelation nineteen is dependent upon the faithfulness of His redeemed, obedient lovers and of His love-relationship with them. He is waiting, waiting, waiting until the Bride has made herself ready. He is ready, it is the Bride that needs to be purified and prepared.

The Bible talks about God being engaged to His beloved, but unfaithful Israel. He also refers to Himself as their Husband, although in a distant sense. The New Testament continues and develops this revelation of His passionate love for His people. In this we see His divine obsession as a golden thread throughout the written Word that we hold in our hands. Even if we “see” something about God’s romantic design for His Son throughout the Bible, what does that have to do with you and me? We know of the God-given human commission to “be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth”, but what does the coming wedding feast of the Lord as the Bridegroom in the future have to do with my marriage now? In the midst of busy lives and many challenging events, what do my thoughts or experience about marriage have to do with that?
My brothers and sisters, as His believers, as His receivers and lovers, it does make a difference to Him for eternity how we live today, because our living today affects the state of preparation of His holy and pure Bride. It certainly matters to us also, for our reward and function in the eternal kingdom directly correspond to the here and now and will be determined at the believers’ judgment. Our temporary living today is for our living in eternity in that day.

Still, what does this biblical truth have to do with your marital state? We need to grasp the idea our family life is for the church, His Bride. It is a great opportunity to see our family life as a laboratory for practicing divine principles and practical truths together in our homes. Such a practice is critical in realizing the importance, purpose and meaning of our marriages today.
Our homes are a great resource of experiences by which we can enrich the church, which is His body, the coming Bride. The Bride of Christ is therefore composed of enriched believers in their daily walk. In no other place is this so practical, so necessary and so parallel to the Lord’s coming marriage feast as in the experience of Christ in our own marriages and home life. In this first study, we will look into these two marriages. May the vision and inspiration in His Word by His Spirit lift us into a place where we have eyes that can see something that will change us and will change our view and pathway forever. May the Lord afford us each and all the grace to enjoy what is in His heart. Such enjoyment will minister to each and to all; yes, to all, whether single, single again, widowed, engaged or married and married with children and extended family. His flowing grace, like water, will minister life and refreshment to any open place. He is the water, let’s exercise and encourage each other often to stay open to His flowing.

Continued