The Bride of Christ

Feb 16, 2025

This morning we looked at our identity as the Bride of Christ (see Rev 21:1-4, Isaiah 62:3-5, Ephesians 5:21-33). It’s important to realise that human marriage acts as an analogy for our relationship with Christ, where Jesus is described as the Bridegroom and the church as the Bride. Marriage, given by God to humanity in Genesis 2, is a relationship of intimacy and love, the ideal place for children to be brought up, and God’s original plan is that this is a relationship for life, reflecting His own lifelong commitment to us. Often in the Old Testament, the prophets described this relationship in this way, with Israel being described as a prostitute (Jer 3:1-3) or an adulterous wife (Ezek 16) because of her inability to remain faithful to God. The book of Hosea takes this even further, with Hosea commanded to marry Gomer, a prostitute, so that in his commitment and love, people could see something of God’s tenderness and love (see Hosea 2:16-20).

The language of marriage in the Bible often refers not simply to husband and wife but to bridegroom and bride, and many of the references to this in the New Testament reflect the cultural expectations of the time, when there was a betrothal period during which the bride and groom were separated until the wedding itself. At this point, the couple were pledged to each other and faithfulness is expected; for example, Paul longs to present the Corinthian church to Christ as a ‘pure virgin.’ (2 Cor 11:2) In the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, we see how the ten virgins went out to meet the bridegroom, but not all were ready for his arrival. (Matt 25:3-5) We are to live prepared, to be ready for the return of the Bridegroom, for Christ’s return at the Second Coming: ‘keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.’ (Matt 25:13)

When that wedding ceremony finally takes place, the church will be seen as radiant, without any stain or wrinkle or any other blemish. (Eph 5:25-27) God’s unfailing, unchanging love will transform us. There is so much more to love than the romantic love recently celebrated on Valentine’s Day. God loved us when we were unlovely (Rom 5:8) and continues to love us with a fervour and passion many of us can only dare to imagine. Our identity as the Bride of Christ reminds us we are loved; we are not useless or nobodies, but are precious in God’s sight. This spiritual analogy is not sexual, nor does it mean Christ has many brides. Collectively, we, as God’s people, are one bride. The church is a plural unity: we’re described as a body made up of many parts; we are described as the household of God, and even in this description of us as the Bride of Christ, there is the knowledge that this is what we are together.

Our hearts cry out, ‘Come, Lord Jesus!’ (Rev 22:20) as we wait for the return of the Bridegroom. Come, Lord Jesus, that we may experience our identity as your Bride in all its fulness.

 

Don’t Take God For Granted

Feb 16, 2025

The proverb ‘Familiarity breeds contempt’ reminds us that we can easily take situations and people for granted. Instead of finding awe and wonder in familiar places and scenarios, we often become blasé and complacent, and this can lead to indifference and even contempt. Sadly, this attitude has been the ruin of many a human relationship, for consideration and gratitude are necessary ingredients in successful living.
We can take this attitude even into how we view God. His faithfulness and love can be so familiar to us that we fail to be astonished by the fact that He is mindful of us and cares for us personally.
Many of the psalms help us to take stock of who God is and what He has done and therefore keep us from this complacent familiarity. They make us refocus on who He is and what He has done so that we do not fall into the trap of familiarity without respect.
David, in Psalm 18 in the Message version, says, ‘I don’t take God for granted. Every day I review the way He works. I try not to miss a trick.‘ Not taking God for granted is the first step to maintaining a healthy relationship with Him. We don’t assume we are worthy or presume on His character. We remain awed by Him. (See Psalm 8.)
Reviewing the way God works is also a key way of maintaining a good relationship with Him. We ponder His grace and mercy. We think about His forgiveness and goodness. We meditate on His unfailing love. We focus not only on what He does but how He works. Such consideration leads us to worship.
‘I try not to miss a trick’ reminds me of my desperate attempts when watching a magician to work out how he does what he does! The quickness of thee hand so often deceives the eye when it comes to magic! We need to watch God with focussed attention – not that He is trying to deceive us (as the magician does), but simply so that we are aware of Him in every scenario and exchange. Attentiveness must be our daily clothing.
God gives us a fresh start and a new way of living. Let’s be alert and do all we can to learn His ways and to live with gratitude and recognition of who He is.

Musings on Job

Feb 13, 2025

C. S. Lewis wrote that, ‘God’s presence is not the same as the feeling of God’s presence. He may be doing the most for us when we think He is doing the least.’

 

I’ve just re-read the book of Job, a difficult book to tackle. It deals with the question of suffering and leaves us with many questions! Job, a God-fearing man, faces enormous difficulties, including bereavement, financial ruin and physical ill-health which is painful and debilitating. The age-old question ‘Why?’ runs through the book. Job’s ‘comforters’ repeatedly tell him there must be a direct connection between his sin and the misfortune he faces. Belief in a personal God means we have to wrestle with this question more than a person who believes suffering is simply random; Job faces the loss of reputation and the agonising internal battle between faith and doubt on top of all his external woes.
The only real clue we have as to the ‘why?’ of Job’s suffering comes at the start of the book, when we see Satan dismissing Job’s piety as merely the result of God’s blessings, and God allows misfortune in as a way of testing Job and proving his worth. Testing through trials does seem to be a common Bible theme.
C. S. Lewis’s quote reminds us that there is a difference between objective truth and our feelings. God has promised never to leave us or forsake us (Heb 13:5, Matt 28:18-20), but there are times in our lives when He feels far from us. We do not feel His presence. We feel nothing or even a deep sense of abandonment. Job had to wrestle with uncertainty, questions and doubt on top of his physical and emotional pain. Yet we are reminded at the end of the book that this was for a season only. Blessing did return when God did speak out of the storm.
God is working in all our circumstances for good (Rom 8:28), even if we cannot see or understand that at present. We wait quietly and trust in Him, regardless of our feelings.

Being a Good Soldier of Christ Jesus

Feb 9, 2025

Tonight we looked at another metaphor for God’s people: soldiers of Christ Jesus. In 2 Tim 2:1-4, Paul urges Timothy to be a ‘good soldier of Christ Jesus’, reminding us that this is a collective description. A soldier is one who serves in an army, which is defined as ‘an organised military force equipped for fighting on land.’ Whilst an individual soldier may make an invaluable contribution to a battle, it is the collective force of an army which ultimately makes the real difference. We are not called to individual Christianity but to be soldiers alongside our brothers and sisters.
Soldiers are called to serve and to obey, and all Christians must be servants of God and obedient, as Mary was (see Luke 1:38). Suffering is also a part of the soldier’s life and must be of the Christian’s (‘join me in suffering’, Paul writes.) Whole-hearted focus is also needed; the aim of the soldier is to please his commanding officer and not to get ‘entangled in civilian affairs.’ Life has many pressing demands on us, but our first focus must be on God (see Matt 6:33)
Eph 6:10-20 reminds us that spiritual armour and spirtiual weapons are needed in life, for we live in a world that is hostile to God. There are only two kingdoms and we are called to stand firm against the devil’s schemes. This requires protection for the heart and mind and to overcome, we must use spiritual weapons (prayer and the word of God.) 2 Cor 10:3-5 reminds us that the spiritual battle cannot be won by the world’s methods, though many have tried to do so. We can only win as we take captive every thought to Christ and withstand temptation as Christ did in the wilderness by standing on the word of God (Matt 4:1-14).
All of us are called to be good soldiers of Christ Jesus, serving collectively with other believers, seeking to bring honour and glory to the name of Jesus. We are called to obedience and humility, to service and suffering. We are called to ‘fight the good fight of the faith.’ (1 Tim 6:12) This is a spiritual battle, requiring spiritual weapons and spiritual armour, but God has not left us ill-equipped. He has given us all we need to be more than conquerors in Him. (Rom 8:37)

Putting Your Life Where Your Faith Is

Feb 9, 2025

Dave spoke this morning from 2 Timothy 1:12, when Paul, writing from prison, urges Timothy to be a beacon for the faith even when suffering. It reminds us in our situations, when facing uncertainties and problems, that we must learn how to be victorious even in suffering.
There are many ‘solutions’ to life’s problems touted by different people, but the bottom line is ‘do they work?’ Christianity is unique and it works! There is no other Saviour and no other salvation than Jesus. Perhaps Timothy, who was much younger than Paul, was daunted by the thought of his mentor’s death, but Paul reaffirms that his faith remains and he is not ashamed. He was able to rejoice, even in suffering, and was able to face every situation with confidence.
Paul has faced many trials throughout his life but has always found God faithful. The gospel gives hope to us all (no matter what our temperament) and can bring security to the most insecure of circumstances. Paul urges Timothy to stir up the gifts God has given and put our beliefs into practice. We can rest in our faith and not be let down, for God is the One who holds us. We must remember Him and live out our faith.

Reconciliation?

Feb 7, 2025

Diplomacy and compromise are at the heart of ending wars, as recent events in Israel and Palestine has shown, but unless there is a genuine heart for peace, such efforts often fail. In 2 Samuel 14 we see Joab trying to bring about reconciliation between David and his son Absalom, which he does through subterfuge, getting a woman from Tekoa to come with a fictional scenario to the king to make him realise the inconsistencies in his attitude towards his son. Apparently, this is successful, for Absalom – who has killed his half-brother Amnon for his rape of Tamar – returns from Geshur to Israel. But as the chapter unfolds, it becomes obvious that this is not real reconciliation, for David still refuses to see his son, and even when Absalom schemes to get back into David’s presence and apparent reconciliation takes place (Absalom bowing down before the king and David kissing him), we are aware of an unease that reminds us true reconciliation is about more than outward appearances.
Reconciliation involves two people meeting each other halfway and genuinely seeking forgiveness for wrongs done. When we read about the Prodigal Son coming to his senses and returning to his father, he admits his sins and humbles himself in repentance. His father throws a lavish feast to welcome him home and offers unconditional forgiveness and acceptance. The two are reconciled. But if we allow resentment to grow in our hearts, if we never talk about the issues, if we do not forgive whole-heartedly, reconciliation is brittle and easily broken.
The gospel brings with it the message that we can be reconciled to God and to each other, with our forgiveness and love modelled on God’s forgiveness of us and acceptance of us as sinners (Rom 5:8, Matt 5:23-24, Col 3:12-14, Heb 12:14-15). It is not always possible (as this and subsequent chapters reveal) because it requires both parties to both want reconciliation and to work towards it. May we learn to forgive, to communicate freely and to be peacemakers, in small and big ways.