June 2, 2022
A Beautiful Bride
Gwen Smith
Today’s Truth
In colorful garments she is led to the king (Psalm 45:14 CSB).
Friend to Friend
Rarely do I see more beauty on the face of a woman than on the day of her wedding. She’s the belle of the ball and she knows it. Her eyes twinkle as she walks down the aisle toward her groom and her smile speaks to the confidence she feels.
Brides are often consumed with wedding planning. They dream of details with best friends, family, co-workers and loved ones. They invite others to share in the big day.
There are showers and parties and cake-tastings.
There are presents to buy and dresses to try on, menus to peruse, and tuxes to rent.
Brides know their wedding day is special. They know this is their day for the spotlight. Their day to shine.
A bride laughs, smiles, glows with love…
… and she dances! She celebrates this one day that is HER day!
Royal weddings don’t happen every day. They’re special, grand occasions full of fancy, opulent indulgences that dance elegantly in the dreams of little girls.
Psalm 45 invites us to an extravagant wedding. All the feels are happening here! It’s a wedding song that points to the return of Jesus as our Bridegroom. That day is coming, and you and I are His bride.
The bride is described as beautiful within, filled with light, love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, goodness, and self-control. Darkness, hatred, and evil have no place in her…
When his ministry was compared to the ministry of Jesus, John the Baptist made a strong distinction and referenced Jesus as the Bridegroom. “You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:28-30 NIV).
In the book of Revelation, John speaks of the coming day when all of heaven shouts in celebration as believers worship God and join Jesus in the wedding supper of the Lamb. “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” (Revelation 19:7 NIV).
No matter our earthly experiences with grooms, we, the people of God, are the Bride of Christ. And He is the perfect gentleman. Royal by all accounts. King of kings! But down to earth… intimate as the closest of earthly friends.
Stand tall, royal Bride.
Your holy Bridegroom adores you, cherishes you with perfect love, sees you as beautiful, and is coming soon to take us all home.
Let’s Pray
My Heavenly King, My Love, You are the embodiment of excellence, splendor, majesty, truth, humility and justice… surely worthy of all praise! Thank You for seeing me as Your beautiful, cherished bride. Please lead my heart to a fresh place of loyalty and royalty today as I celebrate the blessings found in Your eternal love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
How does today’s message stir you toward personal preparation of Christ’s return?
Read Psalm 45. What are some characteristics of the radiant bride of Christ? Do these words describe you? Should they?
Read Rev 19:6-10, then close your eyes and imagine the splendor of that day! Worship in response. Write a prayer in your journal or on the wall of our blog.
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© 2022 by Gwen Smith. All rights reserved.
Originally published Thursday, 02 June 2022.
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