The Lord's Bride

 

After saying a YES to the proposal, what follows is a time of courtship. The moment when the upcoming couple gets to know each other as much as possible. In the likes of family background, explore one another’s belief system on different spheres of life, ideologies, ways of doing things and so much more.  This will last for some time depending on agreement and other constituting factor(s). Moreover, during the waiting time, it is duly expedient that these two are very watchful, careful and sensitive even as they are getting to know one another to ensure they “abstain from all appearance of evil.”

The wedding day is then decided and announced to as many as desired and planned. One of the most significant activities that is done to make each and both of these upcoming couple is all necessary preparation. It might be needful that one or both of them take weeks of leave from work in order to properly nourish the body to assume fitness for what is ahead and for many other things.  

One figurative way we’re going to look at the Lord’s bride is in the likeness of the Head (being Christ) and the body (of Christ, the church). Just as we know too well that neither can the head independently live without the body nor can the body exert independence without the head. This implies that these two (the head and the body) cannot live independently without one another. Anyways, the seen illustrates the unseen. And the seen best reveals the position and the actuality of the unseen.

There is an inseparable independent function and absolute union between the head and the body. However, these two dependent separate entities, have their individualistic cooperate functions. Each or any of these dependent separate entities function to the end that the other is greatly benefited and involved and/or makes the other to presumably see the reward as though it was single handedly carried out. Take for instance, the scripture in Matthew 18:18 that says “verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Coming back to the Lord’s bride, the Lord’s bride is he(meaning whosoever) that is tightly, functional and positional fitted to the Head, that is Christ. You remember we said the body is the church, sadly, not all the members of the body(church) is tightly fitted into Him, the Head nor is all the members of the body the Lord’s bride. You remember John 15:5-6 that says “[5]I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. [6]If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned?”

The Lord’s bride must neither pride herself in results and achievements because they weren’t solely done by herself nor disregard or neglect the place, position and importance of the Head in whatever she does. Considering the scriptural text that directly speaks about Christ being the Head and the body, that is the church, it’s in Ephesians.

Ephesians 5:22-32 reads “[22]wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. [23]For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. [24]Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. [25]Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; [26]That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, [27]that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. [28]So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. [29]For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: [30]For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. [31]For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. [32]This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”

Although, what the are above scripture is saying is largely about the husband. We can likewise derive some things pointing to the wife that is, the Lord’s bride. One of such is that the Lord’s bride must be submissive, respectful and obedient to her husband, Christ. Another thing that we can derive from the above scripture is that the Lord’s bride must “sanctify and cleanse it (herself) with the washing of water by the word.” The fact that a thing is available does not necessarily mean it will be used at all nor does it necessarily mean that it will be used appropriately. The word is therefore available, it’s the Lord’s bride that will ensure she uses the word as prescribed in other to achieve predetermined objective(s).

Another important thing from the above scripture is that the Lord’s bride must be one “not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”  Revelation 19:7-8 spoke in this same vein that “[7]let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. [8]And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”

As regards the nourishing spoken of in Ephesians, Christ desire that His bride will attain what Ephesians 4:13 says. It reads “till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” The Lord who is Christ expects that His bride matures unto a perfect man and grows unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. The Lord is not willing to marry a bride that hasn’t matured unto perfection and has not grown into the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. In achieving this, whilst He ascended, He gave gifts unto men as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. These five fold ministries by the help, inspiration and revelation of the Holy Spirit are to ensure that His bride grows unto perfection and matures unto the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Ensure you are one of the Lord’s brides. He’s coming back for His bride soonest. Prepare and watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. 

Thanks for reading.