About this time every year I began to reminisce, remembering where I was in 1973.
Next week, Dave and I will celebrate our 46th anniversary and when I got up this morning, I sat in my chair for a long time thinking of what I was doing 46 years ago – with only a week left before the “big day”, what was I focused on? Putting the finishing touches on the dress I was making, double checking on the flowers, helping Dad finish the wedding arch. There were many more details I don’t remember but I do remember how excited I felt to be marrying my best friend and the love of my life! 46 years – many of you haven’t even been alive that long…
As I sat there thanking the Lord for what He’s done in us and for us over all those years, my heart filled with song – yes, a song. I heard the words “I will sing of Your love forever, I will sing of Your love forever, I will sing of Your love forever”. Thankful for the love of my husband and that of my Heavenly Father.
Then I remembered so many verses that tell us that the Lord’s love will endure forever. His love is so great – amazingly unconditional and eternal!
“I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.” Psalm 89:2
“Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm 106:1
“For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord.” Psalm 117:2
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” I Chronicles 16:34
“I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion.” Hosea 2:19
Did you get that last one? I will betroth you to me forever, the Lord has chosen us as His beloved! Wow – amazing!!
Paul tells us in Ephesians that the loving, godly relationship between a husband and wife is really an example of Christ and His love for us.
“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” Ephesians 5:22-31 NIV
We became His betrothed and He gave up His life for us. He loves us as His own body, He covers us with His strength and protection, He presents us spotless to His Father.
So now, look back and remember the preparation for your wedding day, the excitement, the anticipation, the LOVE. And put that in context to your relationship with Christ and join with me…
“I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.” Psalm 89:1