weddings and blessings

by Alanna

Last weekend was such a beautiful time. Michael and Janelle, two of my dear friends, got married on Saturday afternoon. Also Mary and Nick were in town, which made everything infinitely more wonderful =) I am just amazed by the love of God, and His goodness demonstrated through such a multitude of blessings. Among these are the blessings of friendship, family, love, and fellowship. Also, I have been thinking about marriage and what a blessing it is. Marriage is a picture of Christ's love for the church. It is an earthly symbol of the relationship between Jesus and His beloved bride. Granted, we as the church are not a perfect bride. We mess up, fail often, and imperfectly represent our Maker. Christ loves us anyway. He loves us unconditionally and self-sacrificially. He gave up everything- His entire life- to redeem us. Husbands are to "love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her" (Ephesians 5:25). Wives are to submit to and follow their husbands' leading. How joyfully and easily we should be able to do this! God Himself has given His all for us. "But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything" (Ephesians 5:24).

Although I can't pretend to have any marriage experience, God has been laying this subject on my heart. I wonder how different Christian marriages would look, if husbands truly loved and served their wives without an ounce of selfishness in them. If wives submitted to and served their husbands just as we as the church are commanded to follow Christ.

That is the excitement of a wedding day! The beautiful gift and priviledge; the awesome responsibility of showing to the world a picture of Christ and His bride.