See her? Over there in the corner? Today, she’s a gloomy gus. Sometimes, she’s stubborn. And quite often, she’s cranky. Not the type you’d want to spend the rest of your life with.
She thinks she is so righteous, when, in fact, she is sadly mistaken. Her behavior has others whispering about her.
Sometimes, she’s rebellious and forgetful. Distracted and too busy. She has forgotten she is engaged, betrothed. She lives as she pleases, not caring that her actions reflect on her family and on her Beloved.
She forgot this was a time of preparation. Preparation for her wedding. What future bride does not plan and prepare for her beautiful wedding day?
But we have forgotten to prepare. For we are that sullen, cranky Bride. Do we behave as though we are betrothed to our Beloved? No. Does our behavior befit a princess or a peasant?
Interesting. I looked up cranky on a whim, just to see if there were any definitions I didn’t know about. Sure enough. Look what I found. Cranky means not only ill-tempered or grouchy but also shaky, unsteady, out of order, full of bends or windings, and crooked.
Ha! Does that sound like the Bride?
Not only crabby, the Bride is also rapidly falling apart. Her eyes have grown dim to right and wrong. She no longer hears all that is said to her. Her mind has fuzzy thoughts. She walks a little crooked. Well, a lot crooked. And her heart? Unfortunately, Her heart is divided.
We are to seek the Lord with our whole heart, which means undivided commitment. Scripture says, “Love GOD, your God, with your whole heart: love Him with all that’s in you, love Him with all you’ve got!” (Deut. 6:5 Msg)
The object of our love and affection is to be God alone. No job, house, spouse or other person, nor money or social acceptance or corporate ladder climbing should ever shove the Lord off His throne and take His place.
Laws exist against polygamy. But, in the spiritual realm, a myriad of suitors looms in the back alleys of a divided heart, lurking under the shroud of black shadows. Just waiting.
But the heart is sacred territory, the place of Christ’s shared intimacy with His precious Bride, which is to be honored with no opposing affections. God desires His Bride’s heart to be espoused to one Husband – Him!
As a bride cleaves only to her husband, the Church is to “love Jehovah your God, to listen to His voice, and to cleave to Him – for He is your life, and the length of your days.” (Deut. 30:20 Masoretic Text)
Our Beloved’s return for us should be uppermost in our minds. He doesn’t want to come for a wrinkled, spotted, hobbling, old hag who doesn’t care if He came or not!
You are the one He loves truly. You, the one for whom He died. You, the one to whom He yearns to be close. You, His precious companion for all eternity.
Prepare yourself, Bride. Ready yourself for your beloved Bridegroom. Remember, you are engaged. Behave as a proper princess should. (Yes, you guys, too!)
The Bridegroom is coming soon for His Bride…but not for a cranky one.
Have you been cranky lately?
Lynn writes devotionals and inspirational stories. She has one book waiting to be published in 2015 and is working on a second one. Her greatest passion is to fulfill God’s call on her life to encourage others and glorify the Lord with her writing. She currently writes for several sites and writes bi-weekly on her site, Heading Home. http://lynnmosher.com
- When Heaven and Earth Collided - December 21, 2016
- A Thanksgiving Proclamation - November 23, 2016
- The Cranky Bride - October 25, 2016
