Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 45:10-17
Ps 45:10-17
10 Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear: Forget your people and your father's house. 11 The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord. 12 The Daughter of Tyre will come with a gift, men of wealth will seek your favor. 13 All glorious is the princess within her chamber; her gown is interwoven with gold. 14 In embroidered garments she is led to the king; her virgin companions follow her and are brought to you. 15 They are led in with joy and gladness; they enter the palace of the king. 16 Your sons will take the place of your fathers; you will make them princes throughout the land. 17 I will perpetuate your memory through all generations; therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.
Rev 19:6-8
6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 7 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. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)
Unlike our society, in the times when these passages were written, a wedding was all about the bridegroom. The bride was the one being honored for being able to marry the man. Her role was to complement him and help him become all he was capable of being. In Proverbs 31, we read of a wife of noble character who spent her life giving to her family and especially her husband. Though she worked hard, it was he who was honored at the gates and esteemed by his fellows.
As the people of God, Christ is our bridegroom and we are his bride. As such, we are to bring him honor and glory. Our beauty is not our own but is provided to us by him. We wear the adornment of his righteousness. Our task is to live in such a way that will demonstrate to the world that Jesus is the King of kings and is Lord of lords. No longer do we live for ourselves but in denying ourselves we take up his cross and follow him. Now he lives in us and our life is about him.
Lord God make me your servant as I seek to follow Jesus, your Son. Help me leave the things of this world behind and keep my heart and desires on you and serving you in all things. There are so many who are suffering in so many ways and I ask you to be with each one. Give your healing where it is best. Give your peace to those who are troubled. Give greater faith to trust you to those who must endure constant pain. Use me to help each one in their special need. Help me see and use each opportunity to share Jesus with others. Forgive me when I fail to be all you want me to be. Give me a pure heart. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
