It’s hard to believe that our baby is getting married at the end of the week! I guess I have weddings on my mind, being in full planning mode, because I have been thinking about what God says about weddings.

In Genesis 15:17 God makes a covenant with Abraham and creates an everlasting relationship with His people. We know that covenants were a big deal to God!

“Throughout the Bible we see God pursuing His people with relentless passion and doing whatever He had to do win them back. God had a plan for redemption and a means to restore a broken relationship.” ~ Joel Ryan

We can look to Hosea and Gomer as a great example of God’s great and fierce love for us. Each and every time Gomer ran away, Hosea would pursue her and bring her home. How beautiful!

God has given us great promises to hold onto that show His commitment and love for us:
* “Understand, therefore the the Lord you God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps HIs covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes His unfailing love on those who love Him and obey His commands.” Deuteronomy 7:9
* “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.” Lamentations 2:22-23

The custom of that time was for the bride and bridegroom to be separated until the wedding day. It was the bride’s responsibility to be faithful and take part in a purification process.

Those two things speak to what is our part in the relationship: being faithful and being pure.

We need to guard our hearts and minds from anything that will bring separation, impurity and unfaithfulness in our lives. Our actions follow the leading and direction of our heart and mind.

But when we do miss the mark in those areas, God’s love and promises are there for us:
* “The Lord says, ‘Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; My love knows no bounds, for My anger will be gone forever.’” Hosea 14:4
* “Rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity.” Joel 2:13

We know that Israel was forever leaving God to follow other people or do their own thing. The early church strayed from the teaching of Jesus and kept reverting back to their old ways. And the church today is no different.
Then there’s me. Oh! How many times have I failed in keeping my mind and heart pure? Or forgot the power and freedom I have in Jesus and allow myself to stay captive to unhealthy thoughts and patterns?

John 3:16 tells us that Jesus’ death and resurrection proves He is faithful to give His life for us, the one He loves. This is God’s great and merciful plan of redemption and love for us!

As Jesus-followers, we have a responsibility to prepare ourselves for the time that Jesus comes back and we are joined with Him in eternity.

“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.
Fine linen, bright and clean was given to her to wear.”
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)
Revelation 19:7-8

With next week being Easter and we remember all that Jesus has done for us, let’s take this week to purify our heart and prepare ourselves for our Bridegroom.

I hope you have a great, wonderful and fantastic day!
All My Love ~
Jodi xo

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