Forever His Bride

I sat looking at a photo from a friend’s recent wedding. The bride wore a beautiful gown but the light in her eyes was captivating. Her groom lovingly had his arm cupped around her back and his smile was so excited and adoring.

A lifetime together was about to begin.

The possibilities were endless.

And then I remembered 22 years ago, when I hunted down David. Only slightly stalking him, I abruptly burst into his life with the full intention of stealing his heart. Mission accomplished in less than five minutes…and I had the engagement ring to prove it within 10 days. I remember driving away from that first meeting thinking, “Man, if I can be looked at that way, the way he was looking at me, for the rest of my life…I could really get somewhere.  I could be joyful— feeling that…adored.”

Within two weeks he had proposed and I had pledged my life and my heart to him in large part because of the way he looked at me. The way I saw myself through his eyes. The way I could do no wrong as the love of his life and how I knew he would do absolutely anything for me.

And then I realized: Jesus calls us the Bride of Christ. I wonder what would happen if we had an army full of believers who knew that their loving Leader looked at them the same way that a bridegroom looks at his sweetheart as she walks down that aisle towards a lifetime together with Him? He isn’t thinking about her faults, her mis-steps, her baggage! That groom is thinking about all the joy they will experience in life together. He’s thinking about providing for her, protecting her, cherishing her for the rest of her life. No groom stands there watching that vision of loveliness walk towards him thinking of her faults…her mistakes…her blunders and blemishes. Love has blinded him to most of it– and on this day he wouldn’t even consider any of those faults!

So when you think of how your Savior looks at you, I hope you envision His gaze upon you the same way that a groom gazes upon his bride. I pray you understand that your Savior loves you enough to have taken every punishment of sin to Himself that you may live in freedom and boldness, now and for eternity.  Please remember: you are made in right standing with God because you believe that Jesus’ sacrifice covers over your sin. That’s what “righteousness by faith” means.

And may that image of His loving gaze give you strength and security to walk through life knowing He couldn’t possibly adore you more! This God who IS love is also known as the Prince Of Peace. My prayer is that His perfect love gives you perfect peace today!