For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Is there any doubt in our minds that His bride is His Church?
Let us avoid the semantics for the moment and concentrate on the relationship.
The relationship we have with Christ is like no other. No matter how much we love our spouses Jesus loves us more. No matter how much we know our spouses, Jesus knows us better. No matter how much we sacrifice for each other Jesus has sacrificed more. No matter how much we have to offer to our spouses Jesus is offering more.
Every human relationship is fraught with compromise. It is a matter of inserting our will into the relationship for a number of reasons. Does the husband make all the decisions? Do they talk about important decisions and decide together what is best? What takes priority in human relationships is a very complex problem with many variables.
In this relationship with Christ we are betrothed to the King of kings and Lord of lords who sits on the right hand throne of God. How can we resist Him?
If we look at good solid human love between a husband and wife we will discover that over time as we get to know each other better and better it is easier to cooperate with one another.
This relationship is similar but not exactly the same. He is never wrong and He will not compromise on what is right and just. He will never force you to do anything against your will. Love is a choice and He wants us to choose Him over everything else only because we love Him, not just because He is God.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
Do we trust Him enough to obey Him even when we do not fully understand what He is asking of us?
Trust is earned and if He hasn’t done enough to earn our trust, He will love us a little more and for a little while longer to earn that trust.
Has He done enough?