Bibledoorajar Positions Itself For The Arrival of the Bride

     Twenty years ago, I attended my nephew's wedding in Charleston, South Carolina. I knew little about the bride to be, but I had been prepared ahead of time that she and her attendants would arrive at the cathedral in horse drawn carriages. So, I stood outside with many others to see the arrival. Someone yelled, "Here comes the bride!" From out of the city of Charleston, the wedding party arrived in flower bedecked carriages and entered into the more holy place. I remember thinking that expense had not been spared to make the occasion of the bride's arrival more memorable.

     And, so it was for our country girl. She was carried out of the wilderness to Jerusalem, the city of God, on the king's bedecked litter. He had spared no expense to make the occasion memorable. Myrhh and frankincense bedecking the bride arose like pillars of sweet perfume and merchant's powder. Because the littler was that of the king, it was surrounded by 60 valiant men well prepared militarily against any attack. This is the greatest number of mighty men (loyal friends of the king) ever mentioned in the Bible. How safely and gloriously was the bride carried into the city of God. What a change had taken place for the bride. She had gone from being a "nobody" to being a "somebody" because of the king. She smelled so good!

     Sometimes it is hard to believe that the Father is perfuming us in the same way isn't it? But just read this:

"It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us

wisdom from God---that is our righteousness, holiness and 

redemption. Therefore, as it is written, 'Let him who boasts

boast in the Lord."  1 Cor.: 30-31

So Lord, we brag about how wonderfully you are perfuming us and preparing us for the great wedding feast in the city of God--the new Jerusalem. Only You know just how much myrhh and just how much frankincense we need in our lives in order to be ready for an eternal relationship. Therefore, we give You praise for all our times good and bad.

Bibledoorajarcontinues to examine "the kiss"

Last week, Bibledoorajar observed that the country girl desired an intimate kiss from her newly found shepherd. She longed for that personal relationship that allows for such personal kisses. But, as you may recall, we also observed that such intimacy comes with a maturing mutual relationship. The king, himself, is also pursuing the kiss and very much wants to give it, but the timing must be perfect. It will come after the couple experience many blessed things together. The king is waiting until the girl appreciates that her shepherd is also the king and that therefore such a kiss cannot be taken lightly. The king has no desire to give the kiss to one who may continue to pursue kisses from another.

Our Christ has told us in the written Word when His bride gets the "kiss". It is a part of our maturing relationship with Him. As we mature in Him, our every righteous effort is met with the kiss. According to Ephesians 2:14, JESUS HIMSELF IS OUR PEACE. And, according to 2 Corinthians 5:21, the Father "made HIM who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God in HIM".

These verses make it clear that in our beloved, God perceives us a righteous and provides the help we need to live out a righteous point of view complete with righteous acts. Praise God, it is the kiss! In Psalms 85:10 we find that RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE kiss each other! The Father's criteria has been met; the relationship is blessed.

This is a freeing truth and the beginning of real spiritual progress. As the bride believes deeply within her spirit that the bridegroom will never leave her or forsake her, she is poised to live righteously. She  believes that any pain and tears she experiences as He helps us learn righteousness are worth everything. The bride gets the kisses because He is a rewarder of them that diligently (earnestly) seek Him and His gifts.

Thank you Father for our pathway to righteousness. And thank you for the King of Glory who showers us with kisses and will bring us all the way home to the palace. Lord, come quickly!