Bibledoorajar readies for the King to come for His bride

     Our country girl has had a lot of experiences with her lover, the king. Although she has not always been with him, her mind and heart have been stretched beyond wonder. She now finds herself reveling in this person she has come to love. But it is not silly happy love any longer. She has been transformed by her times of suffering and sorrow as well as her gladness. These experiences have brought her love to a new and higher level and we now find her exalting the one who has shared so much strength and ability with her. She tells others how great this love is, but warns it is better not to stir up this kind of love until one is ready to deal with the transforming power of it. This kind of love aims for real union.
Paul wanted to be sure that young Timothy understood the aim or goal of this kind of love. He writes 1 Tim.1:5:

"The GOAL of this command is love which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."

Paul wanted Timothy to know that it is possible to walk away from faith if one has not really understood and grasped the transforming demands of Christ's love. They, not being ready for real union, settle for something much cheaper.

But, back to our story. The daughters of Jerusalem see something wonderful coming. It is the king coming for his bride! Could it be? Has the country girl matured enough to become consecrated in marriage to the king? It's going to happen. Tune in next week to see the king take his bride. Everything she has been through is going to be worth it! Lord, thank you for not giving up on us!

Bibledoorajar opens for the Song of the Bride

     As we have learned so much about our King via the Queen's visit with King Solomon, I thought it might be fun to spend some time looking at King Solomon's Song of the Bride. God has made it clear that He will rejoice over His people as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride. In Isaiah 62:5, we read:

         "As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you."
      In Revelation we read of Christ returning as a bridegroom for His bride. We read:

         "Let us rejoice and be glad! Let us give Him the glory! For the time has come for the wedding of the Lamb, and His bride has prepared herself---fine linen, bright and clean has been given her to wear"--Revelation 19 ff).

Part of Christ's glory will be His bride dressed in fine linen --the righteous deeds of His people--the ones who are blessed to be invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb. These are God's own words concerning the feast and are the ones that the angel instructed John to write down. The words are a testimony of Jesus--the Spirit of Prophecy and constitute a reassuring promise that will indeed come true. One day the faithful bride will see her faithful bridegroom and, therefore, we must realize the wisdom of our righteous deeds. Since it is in righteousness that He will judge the world, He will surely recognize our efforts. It will be wonderful to be included in this wedding feast and to be with our bridegroom -- the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It is sad to think of those who will not experience the wonderful things of God at the wedding feast. They can expect to experience Him treading the winepress from which flows the wine of the furious rage of God. I, for one, prefer the wedding feast and eternal bliss. How about you? Next week we will begin the story of Solomon and the Schulamite bride. Have a great week!