“And to the husbands, you are to demonstrate love for your wives with the same tender devotion that Christ demonstrated to us, his bride. For he died for us, sacrificing himself to make us holy and pure, cleansing us through the showering of the pure water of the Word of God. All that he does in us is designed to make us a mature church for his pleasure, until we become a source of praise to him—glorious and radiant, beautiful and holy, without fault or flaw.”
Ephesians 5:25-27 TPT
Happy new month, Positioned family! As we step into this new season, we want to express our deepest gratitude for your journey with us over the past month. Your prayers, your presence, and your various forms of participation are the heartbeat of this ministry. Our prayer for you this month is that you would see more of Jesus in every area of your life. May He continue to lift you up and fill your heart with reasons to rejoice.
In this week’s blog post, we are exploring our identity as the Bride of Christ, joined to our most amazing Bridegroom, Jesus. Having had the privilege of witnessing breathtaking wedding ceremonies and watching those closest to me enter, and by God’s grace, flourish in the covenant of marriage, I can truly say it is a beautiful journey. In the lead up to a ceremony, you see both the bride and groom intentionally preparing for the single day that will usher them into a new reality and a new way of living. They prepare themselves in diverse ways; not just to look beautiful, but to be joined as one. There is a unique oneness found in this type of commitment; it is a union documented legally, declared verbally, and established before witnesses.
Imagine these two individuals preparing to declare not only their love for one another but their solemn vows. We hear the husband promising the wife’s family that he will cherish and provide for her, while the bride vows to honor her groom and submit to his leadership as the head of their home. So many beautiful exchanges take place on this day; it is a rare moment where you truly hear the depths of how much two people love each other. Although it is but a single day’s event, you witness them washing one another in words overflowing with affection and commitment. Then comes another beautiful moment: the exchange of rings. The groom takes the bride’s hand and slides the ring onto her finger, often still showering her with heartfelt words, and the bride does the same. Anyone who sees these rings will instantly recognize that they are married; these bands represent the sacred seal of their union. Some pastors even ask the couple to lift their hands, revealing the rings for all to see. The ceremony concludes with that powerful declaration: “What God has joined together, let no one separate. Matthew 19:6. I now present to you, husband and wife.”
It is beautiful, isn’t it? Now, imagine Jesus seeing us as His Bride. He is the Bridegroom who came to earth specifically to reclaim us as His own. I love that regardless of how we look or the baggage we carry, He made a covenant to wash away every stain. Unlike an earthly bride who walks down the aisle flawlessly adorned, our love story with Jesus often begins with us walking toward Him carrying scars, pain, and disappointment. Yet, He loves us still. He clothes us in His grace so that the moment we become one with Him, we are truly seen as His; delivered from shame, cleansed of every spot, and set free from our past. Long before the arrival of Jesus, many prophets spoke of this divine illustration. We have always been that significant to God; He knew from the beginning that a bride price would have to be paid to redeem us. In Hosea 2:19, the Lord spoke of how He would betroth us to Himself forever. No amount of mourning or brokenness was ever intended to be strong enough to separate us from His love. He has always, always made a way to reclaim us as His own. A price was paid for you to be called a Bride. Someone had to endure a painful death for you to be recognized as His, and His name is Jesus. In those moments, He set aside His own glory; He chose not to invoke the power and authority He carried. Instead, He put everything aside to think only of us: His precious Bride. While many mocked Him and doubted His identity, I imagine Him looking into those same faces and still seeing His Bride. No amount of ridicule or denial from His own people could change His mind. He even cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34. The mission He came to fulfill was far greater and more eternal than the momentary pain and shame He endured. He knew a great reward was coming and that reward was having us by His side forever.
This is our reality: Christ is our Bridegroom, and He has bestowed upon us a divine life. He promised that when He returns, He will be coming for a pure and holy Bride (Ephesians 5:27); but first, He had to make us pure. This purity is not a standard He demands of us from afar; it is a gift He has already given. He purified us through His own blood and washed us with His Word. This is your true identity; it is not a myth or a fairytale. Refuse to let the standards of this world or the weight of its problems convince you otherwise. Remain in that purity and holiness, knowing that Jesus Himself has made you so.
As Christ’s Bride, we represent His Church: His living temple. We are the place where He chooses to abide and operate. When the people in Jerusalem mishandled the physical temple, Jesus was moved to holy indignation, driving out those who had turned it into a marketplace. He challenged them; “destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Many argued, mocking the idea that a structure which took forty six years to build could be restored in just three days. But He did exactly what He promised. In those three days, Jesus transformed humanity; He conquered hell and death, crowning us; His Church and His Bride, as His very own. We are now a temple that can never be taken away from Him. We are a temple that can never be torn down. He gave us the Holy Spirit to be our seal: a divine mark ensuring that whatever comes against us must recognize that we belong to Him. We are the Bride of the most powerful, yet most loving, Bridegroom the world has ever known. Be sure of this: your Bridegroom is not a man who can easily forget or go back on His word. He is Jesus; the one who paused His own life and majesty to reclaim us. The Bible tells us that He demonstrated His love through this very act; truly, how much more could anyone love? What manner of love is this!
Just as an earthly bride and groom must communicate continually, our relationship with Jesus requires the same intentionality. Constant communication deepens the connection; the more two people speak, the more they begin to sound like one another. For us, prayer is the vital channel that strengthens our bond with Jesus. He desires for us to get it right so much that He provided the Holy Spirit to intercede on our behalf. Do not limit your time with Him. Enter into that secret place with bold persistence and stay there. Allow Him to shower you with blessings in the stillness of prayer, and watch your intimacy flourish as you linger in His beautiful presence.
Another beautiful aspect of two becoming one is the ability to multiply and increase; this is a blessing commanded by God our Father. Because we are one with Christ, that same freedom to increase in every area of life is our portion. Believe this truth and take hold of it: you are no longer operating alone. In everything you desire to do, you now have the advantage of two; the power of divine unity. Together with Christ, you can tear down walls that would require a thousand men. This is exactly why Apostle Paul declared, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.–Philippians 4:13. Your strength is no longer your own; it is His.
Your intimacy with Christ will inevitably yield greater and more abundant fruit. The spiritual rewards spoken of in Galatians 5:22-23: love, patience, hope, and so many others, will become visible through you because of your union with Him. As you abide in Him, these virtues are not forced; they are the natural harvest of a heart close to the Bridegroom. Absolute assurance in Jesus is a specific fruit that grows from the soil of intimacy. Recall the moment Peter nearly drowned; he cried out for Jesus to save him. This wasn’t just because Jesus was nearby, but because Peter knew that Jesus had the power to rescue him from that very moment. Jesus answered that cry instantly; He reached out, caught Peter, and they walked together as intended. We are the Bride of that very Bridegroom; the One who lifts us out of any situation and hears us in our moments of frustration and tears. It is through intimacy that we realize nothing is powerful enough to keep Jesus from saving us, He can even save us from ourselves.
As you journey with Christ this year, my prayer is that you would always remember your identity: you are the Bride of Christ. May nothing ever steal this truth from your heart. I pray that Jesus continues to pursue you and embrace you so deeply that you experience and see only the reality of Heaven all around you.
LET’S PRAY
Precious Father, thank you for Your love and grace. Thank you, Lord, that we can boldly approach Your throne of grace to obtain mercy. We are filled with gratitude for all You have been doing, and we thank You for Your consistent love that never stops pursuing us.
Father, today we celebrate the truth that our Bridegroom demonstrated on the cross. Thank you, Lord, for always keeping us in Your thoughts and for restoring hope and peace in our lives. As we continue to wait and prepare for the coming of our Bridegroom, I pray that none of us shall slip away. We commit to paying the most careful attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
May we remain on course and lead many others to be ready for the return of Jesus. Until He returns, I pray that we continue to gaze upon Your Word and pray fervently at all times. Thank you for Your Spirit, who walks beside us and daily transforms us into your likeness. We are forever grateful to be Yours. In Jesus’ name, Amen!!!