A Maid or a Bride

Revelation 21:9 

“And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”

To be a part of the bride of Christ is a very special blessing.  There will be a closeness that will develop between us and God.  There will be rejoicing by God over us if we are a part of his bride.

Isaiah 62:5  For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

There will be rejoicing on our part because we are a part of his bride.

Jeremiah 33:11  The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.

What I want to ask you today is this simple question, are we a maid or are we a bride?

·       Why are we here today?

·       Why do we live holy lives?

·       Why do we give our finances, our time, and our energy?

·       Why do we do what we do?

·       Do we do what we do out of obligation or do we do what we do out of love?

You may ask the question what is the difference between a maid and a bride?

·       A maid will do everything that a bride does but a maid gets paid for it.

·       A bride will do everything that a maid does, she does not get paid for it, but there is a relationship, a closeness, and an intimacy that a bride has that a maid does not have.

Luke 10:38-42    Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.  (39)  And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.  (40)  But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.  (41)  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:  (42)  But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Do we need to serve? “Yes”, but there is a time and place for that. We need the closeness to God that only a bride can bring. There are promises when we are more than a maid…

Jeremiah 3:14  Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:

There is a two-fold relationship that gives a double certainty of acceptance. As children, they were sure of a father’s love, as a wife they might hope for a revival of past affection from the husband of their youth.

Isaiah 61:10  I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

Raymondville, TX 2.2010