Oakwood Church Fresh Start Women's Devotional Encouragement for Today Hartland Delafield

The Bride

By Elizabeth Cole

“My beloved is mine and I am his...”

Song of Solomon 2:16a

She stood in the white gown and I almost couldn’t breathe for a moment. A grown woman standing nearly six feet tall (I remember when she was 19 inches) with only the sparkle in her smile outshining the jeweled sparkle on her dress.

Four days to go, and we’re having a final “dress rehearsal,” ensuring we’ve got all that she needs. She giggles just a bit, utterly radiant as she anticipates appearing before her bridegroom on their wedding day. I can hardly wait for that moment when I get to stand, turn and watch her confidently walk down the aisle on the arm of my beloved toward a man our grace-lavishing God has sweetly given her.

Revelation 19:6b-8 uses captivating wedding imagery as it describes the cosmic story our God has been unfolding since the beginning of time, culminating in Christ the Lamb’s return for His bride, the Church:

 “Hallelujah!
    For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
7 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.
8 Fine linen, bright and clean,
    was given her to wear.”

Those who are in relationship with Christ have been given all that we need to be ready for our Bridegroom’s coming. Through His redemptive work on the cross, Jesus has exchanged our robes of sin for His robe of righteousness, adorning us as with jewels. Beloved, in the eyes of your groom, you stand radiant and sparkling…because your grace-lavishing God has gifted you.

May we confidently live today as a dress rehearsal…the wedding feast is one day closer!

GOING DEEPER:

1.  How will you walk through today as a bride preparing for her Bridegroom?

FURTHER READING:

Isaiah 61:10; Revelation 21:2

Elizabeth is a wife, mother to three adult daughters and soon to be TWO sons-in-law, and is the Director of Connecting at Oakwood Church.