As We Wait … “His Bride has made herself ready” … [Revelation 19:7]
As the Bride of Christ, we are being prepared for the “Day” until that Day! COVID-19 allowed clear-cut-time for greater preparation for that day! And even though we are in post-quarantine, the preparation for our face-to-face day with Jesus still continues. It does not end until we leave this earth on that day!
Revelation 22:12-17 AMPC
“Behold, I am coming soon, and I shall bring My wages and rewards with Me, to repay and render to each one just what his own actions and his own work merit.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last (the Before all and the End of all).
Blessed (happy and to be envied) are those who cleanse their garments, that they may have the authority and right to [approach] the tree of life and to enter through the gates into the city.
[But] without are the dogs and those who practice sorceries (magic arts) and impurity [the lewd, adulterers] and the murderers and idolaters and everyone who loves and deals in falsehood (untruth, error, deception, cheating).
I, Jesus, have sent My messenger (angel) to you to witness and to give you assurance of these things for the churches (assemblies). I am the Root (the Source) and the Offspring of David, the radiant and brilliant Morning Star.
The [Holy] Spirit and the bride (the church, the true Christians) say, Come! And let him who is listening say, Come! And let everyone come who is thirsty [who is painfully conscious of his need of those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, and strengthened]; and whoever [earnestly] desires to do it, let him come, take, appropriate, and drink the Water of Life without cost.“
As a young-ish bride, I wanted everything concerning our wedding to be “perfect.” As many brides do, I had a wedding planner … in addition to my Mom. The wedding planner was very knowledgeable about wedding protocol etc. However, when it came to the evening of our rehearsal, she was more like a top sergeant than a genteel guide. She was not prepared for the fun-loving and rowdy Ratliff-Turner bunch! In fact, she just about spoiled what could have been a delightful evening as she commanded and ordered us around. It was not a secret how agitated and put-out she was with us.
She was not there for the wedding day, thank the Lord! If she had been, she probably would have fainted when she heard the giggling throughout the wedding guests and saw “help me” written on the bottom of Steve’s shoes in white paint when we knelt to pray!
Did you ever consider that we have a holy Wedding Planner who is teaching, guiding, and transforming us as He prepares us for our face-to-face day with Heaven’s Groom, Jesus? He convicts and redirects us … but not like a top sergeant. No, He loves us too much for that. He teaches us from God’s Word and loves to increase our understanding … prompting us to press into our Abba Father’s Heart … unafraid.
The Holy Spirit sticks closer than a brother and loves to commune with us. He listens and responds to our questions in His time. No question is too small and none too huge or outrageous.
Lately these have been some of my questions for Him:
· What does My Father desire for His church to become that is scattered all over the world? Individually and corporately?
· What is My Father’s Vision and Mission for each local church body? What is Your Vision specifically and strategically for CCV?
· What things am I blind or numb to? Show me what You see, Lord.
· How am I missing Your ordained opportunities? Why am I missing them?
· What am I trying to complete in the flesh that You began in the Spirit?
· I am seeking You, Lord, and calling on You while You are near. Will You show me Your Ways and teach me Your Paths?
· Who needs my intercessory prayer right now?
· I am not satisfied nor fooled any longer by lopping off behavioral fruit and thinking it’s taken care of … only to circle that mountain again and again. Will you reveal and transform the root from which that bad fruit grows so that my behavioral fruit is consistently kind and patient?
I have learned that the Shepherd of our souls cherishes our questions because it is the simplest form of communicating with Him. They keep our inner-eyes open, and inner-ears listening … at-the-ready for His Word. Let’s give awakened thought to the questions we ask the Lord. Not settling for asking “fruit” questions … let’s ask the below-the-surface “root” questions.
We’re all works in progress looking forward to that day! I cannot stop smiling at the thought of it!!!
Take a refreshing look into Isaiah 55 the next time you need inspiration!!!
You will not be disappointed!
Sure do love my brothers and sisters in the Lord,
Roz