Revelation 19:9 Then
the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed
are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!' " And
he added, "These are the true words of God."
I think that I have presided over
200 weddings in my ministry. Some of them I remember very well, so when I see a
Facebook post of a special anniversary or some photos of the wedding, I happily
congratulate the couple. It takes a lot of energy, focus, forgiveness, and
encouragement to keep a marriage going. Those who survive their relationship
issues and keep their love alive should be commended and celebrated.
Sadly, for some folks, their marriages
have not survived the rigors of the years. What started out as a loving
partnership, has ended up as a depleted relationship. No matter what the cause
of the divorce, I think that most people who undergo a final separation feel a
lot of pain, mixed with guilt and regret. The wedding celebrations of
yesteryear are largely forgotten and the feeling of making a mistake will
probably always be there. Divorce tears at the heart and mind, as well as the
bank account and life resources. This is why more churches are setting up
divorce recovery groups because the burdens of grief and regret can be
difficult to carry alone.
As Christians, there is a wedding
feast and a marriage that we can all look forward to occurring in our future
lives. It will be the moment when Christ is finally united with the Church, His
Bride. When He returns among us, He will invite all of His people to the
celebration. It will be a time of great joy and jubilation, of everlasting love
and eternal happiness. We may not always get things right with our
relationships on Earth, but as Christians we do have this wonderful event to joyfully
experience when Jesus is at last reunited with His followers and we are all
welcomed into His Kingdom forever.
Questions for personal reflection
What does
marriage mean to me? How does Christ’s marriage to the Church differ from what
we experience on Earth?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for inviting
us to Your wedding feast. May our hearts be open to Your love, so that when it
finally happens, we may joyfully celebrate the eternal union of Your Kingdom in
Heaven with Your Church on Earth. In Your Holy Name, we wait and pray. Amen.
John
Stuart is the pastor of Erin Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like
to comment or ask questions about today’s devotion, please send him an email to
Traqair@aol.com.
Today’s
image is John’s latest Appalachian drawing. It’s called ‘Smoky Mountain Dawn.’
If you would like to view a larger version of the drawing, please click on the
following link:
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