The Bride

I have been listening to Joseph Prince’s Ruth teaching. I have had to listen to each CD over and over and over again. When JP says it is so rich he is not kidding. Each time I listen to one CD I hear something new from the Holy Spirit that blesses me. Today I heard something for the first time after listening to it for days and I had to stop the player. I just wept! I felt Jesus love for me and my mind was so flooded with answers that all I could do was cry. I will quote Pastor Prince and then share what God said to me. JP is teaching on how Ruth is a type of us – the gentile church – and how Boaz is a type of Jesus. Now this is not new teaching as many have taught on it from many angles. He is explaining how the kinsman redeemer must be wealthy enough and willing to redeem the one who has lost – their land, their husband, so forth. And that this kinsman redeemer must be related to the one seeking redemption. He goes on to explain that this is why Jesus had to come in human form – to be related to us – HALLELUJAH! So this is mostly not news for me but then JP says, “Is Jesus able to redeem us? Is he willing to redeem us? Is he willing to marry us?” 

Oh dear God thank you for this one. Yell Yes!!! Jesus is not only our kinsman redeemer but he is our groom – He wants to marry us! What does that mean? Well I am a fairly new bride of only four years so I could remember what my husband did in pursuit of my hand. He wanted to marry me so badly that he was willing to do anything. He was not willing to be apart from me for even a moment. So to have this epiphany that the Almighty God, Lord of Lords, King of Kings, Creator of the universe, the Great I AM wants to marry me is almost excessively deep for words. For me it means He is willing to rescue me, give me his entire paycheck, listen to me with great interest and smile at my silly sayings. He will come find me and he misses me when I don’t call him. He wants to lie next to me and hold me close and reassure me that I am safe. He wants to surround me with protection and command the enemy to leave. He is willing to avenge the devil that comes against me! And not only is He willing – He is able. 

He is doing it. He’s not just standing by waiting for me to accept the invitation – I did that when I told Him I wanted Him to be my savior and the Lord of my life. That was all the invitation He needed. He has not ever forgotten his commitment to marry me. Even when I stray away from the wedding plans, He has not. He is faithful and true. He is returning for His bride. He is able to complete what He began. He is so in love with me that there is nothing I can do to change that. Even if I act totally yucky He has already forgiven me because He is so in love with me. Even if I refuse to put on pretty clothing and makeup and perfume he still thinks I am the most beautiful bride ever!! He wants to marry me!!! He is my kinsman redeemer! He is my Boaz. He is my Jesus!!! 

Father God, thank you for my wonderful husband who acted certain ways in the beginning or our relationship to win my heart. Thank you, Father, thank you!!! I have a personal experience to understand your son’s love for me. I have a mental image that Holy Spirit can use to remind me every day that the true groom is still in pursuit and is the perfect husband and will not let me slip from His gaze! I have only gotten through the first two CD's. So excited to keep listening!