THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

What would a man think if his bride-to-be invited him to her house, sat him in the living room and then went her way? While he waits, she works in the kitchen, dusts the furniture, mops the floors—and never says a word to him!

Jesus endures the same pain any man would feel if his beloved continually praised him, saying “I love you” over and over, yet showed him little or no attention!

The sweetheart may claim, “Well, he’s always on my mind.” I have heard people say that about Jesus: “He’s on my mind all day, in everything I do.” But you can have Him on your mind all day and still neglect Him! When a bride-to-be does this, her so-called love is a lie! She may tell her fiancé she truly loves him, but her actions tell him she does not.

The Lord asks, “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number” (Jeremiah 2:32). David also said Israel kept forgetting the Lord: “They forgot God their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt” (Psalm 106:21).

The Lord mentioned His pain in Scripture for the whole world to see! He said openly, “My people neglect Me for days on end!” Why would the Lord tell the world about such neglect? Shouldn’t lovers’ differences be kept quiet? No—He wants us to know how hurt He is! He tells the whole world because He is so heartbroken by our behavior!

Imagine that you are an engaged young woman going to church with your husband-to-be. You grasp his hand and tell everyone, “We’re going to be married. I love him—he is absolutely wonderful!” But as soon as you are out the door, you just clam up and do not say a word to him! What is he supposed to think?

I would not want a bride who extols my virtues, says loving things about me in public, tells me how precious I am, and then later gets cold and avoids spending time with me. That is not true affection!

Beloved, if you do not have quality time with Jesus every day—if you do not spend time in prayer with Him, or seeking His Word—you do not love Him and you are breaking His heart!