Will you marry me? This is a much sought after question in our world today. Jesus has or is asking this question of you. He is coming back for His bride—not a girlfriend, ‘bae,’ or ‘boo-thang. But Jesus wants His bride.
What is your ‘relationship status’ with Christ? In today’s society, we have so many relationship descriptions to keep up with—all of which describe each one except faithfulness. There are times in which we tend to practice the same in our ‘relationship’ with Christ. Here are some that are quite interesting: ‘moving around’ (looking for a lover); ‘dating’ (testing different lovers); ‘engaged’ (thinking about marrying Jesus); ‘married’ (committed and completely sold out for Jesus); ‘cheating’ (straying away from Godly principles); and ‘divorced’ (cheated for so long that you left Christ for another).
The good news is that God is married to the backslider, and it’s time to come home!
2 Corinthians, 11:2-4 (ERV) says: “I am jealous for you with a jealousy that comes from God. I promised to give you to Christ. He must be your only husband. I want to give you to Christ to be his pure bride.[a] 3 But I am afraid that your minds will be led away from your true and pure following of Christ. This could happen just as that snake with his clever lies tricked Eve. 4 You seem to be quite patient with anyone who comes to you and tells you about a Jesus that is different from the Jesus we told you about. You seem very willing to accept a spirit or a message that is different from the Spirit and message that you received from us.”
According to the dictionary, a ‘bride’ is a bride before, during, and after the legal process. It is a figurative three-fold commitment. This reminds me of Ecclesiastes 4:12 where a three-fold cord is not easily broken. Here are some definitions of a ‘bride’: “(noun), a woman newly married or about to be”; Old English, “bride, betrothed or newly married woman.”
Just as we have read in 2 Corinthians 11:2-4, this is His relationship with you if you ever said yes to Him. If you haven’t, then I invite you today. He is waiting to love you, heal you from all of your hurts, and bring you to heights unknown—total complete restoration in the spirit, heart, mind, body, will, emotions, gifts, talents, abilities, and finances (Jeremiah 31:1-5 [ERV]).
Yes, you will probably say that sounds—but that really doesn’t apply to me. Well that’s not true. Look at it in Romans 2:28-29.
God loves you, is faithful to you, wants you back, and wants to restore you from your loss. As I previously said, He is married to the backslider (Jeremiah 3:19-20).
Jesus is faithful as shown in the example of an unfaithful Son who returns in Luke 15:11-32.
‘Faithfulness and ‘commitment to Jesus is paramount in these passages. Jesus is faithful no matter how unfaithful we are. But it’s time for a change. It’s time for a return to our first love and the white-hot relationship we began with Him. It’s time to return to the faithful commitment we once made. He loves us with an undying love. He’s waiting! I need you to come back to me, my love. Come home today. Let’s have a party!
(Min. Nikkita Johnson is an associate minister of Celebration Christian Center, Inc. located at 1215 9th Ave. N., Nashville, Tenn. 37208. Their website is www.celebrationchristian.online).
