Christian Living

Understanding more of the enormity of what was achieved for us in the life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ helps us know Him better. Knowing Him better compels us to love Him more, and that love overflows to others made in His image. We will never understand the totality of all that's been accomplished for us. We will be eternally discovering more of that generous fullness. In the meantime we can join David in praising God seven times daily which is another way of saying we can learn to praise God more and more completely. That kind of genuine praise spread over the course of the day helps to keep our hearts right toward God and to keep us in unbroken fellowship with God. God hears unspoken petitions in our praise and worship, they are rising without yet being consciously formulated, rising in the form of loving praise which ministers to God without trying or intending to extract anything from God. Not that it is wrong to do that but there's a spiritual economy in praise and worship that rises to a higher place in God's heart that is little understood or acknowledged. But in the incisive, insightful clarity of the meditative mind of Christ it is beginning to come into focus for some, and they are eagerly entering into it, as they await with longing their heavenly bridegroom. There is surely a wedding to come, it is on the horizon.

 

Some weddings are so elaborate and full of extravagant presentation, but there is no substance later to support it. They are all pomp and ceremony but then fail to live out the vow. They can walk the aisle with a smile but not the alley or the valley that comes later. Other weddings lack the elaborate presentation, but in their unassuming simplicity they lead to lifelong commitment and to an extravagant covenant loyalty that grows more powerful over the years. The Bride of Christ will one day soon begin it's experience of the best of both of these.