“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”
Ephesians 5:25-27
We often give undue credit to the courser behaviors in our pop culture.
One example is a television show called “Bridezilla”.
It is an hour-long follow-along of a bride as she prepares for her wedding day.
But what is on display is anything but a chaste and gentle lady.
Instead you see a spoiled, often violent, profane woman who demeans everyone and everything (often including the groom) on the lead up to her big day.
The premise seems to be that since it is her day she can do anything she wants and others are expected to tolerate it.
What a contrast to the Bride being prepared for Christ.
In our verses today we read a description of the church, His bride.
He will return for a bride without stain, wrinkle or blemish.
His bride will be holy and blameless.
He made her holy by giving Himself up for her.
As we discussed yesterday, it was part of the work done through the cross.
So what is our role?
We surrender to the sanctifying work, the purifying work of His Holy Spirit.
Left to our flesh, left to ourselves – the result is a ‘bridezilla” but…
His Holy Spirit, as He is allowed to work in us, is preparing His bride.
Have you surrendered to His work in you today?
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