Month: August 2021

Devotional

Here Comes the Groom!

kathrynhugheswriter

When We Meet Jesus series – Part Two of Three

There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. John 14:2, 3 NLT

My husband, Cliff, and I met and dated during our time attending Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo, California.  After our graduations, I returned to Southern California, and Cliff took a job in Northern California. We spent 19 months in a long-distance relationship, rarely seeing each other. We maintained our relationship through letters and late night telephone calls, not yet having the internet or cell phones.

We were eager to get married and share our lives together in the same place. When it was finally the right time, I packed my belongings for my move, bought my white lace dress, and we planned the wedding. Cliff provided a place for us to live. He came, we wed, and he took me home with him.   

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Photo by Min An on Pexels.com

In the Jewish culture of Jesus’ time, a bridegroom would prepare a home for his bride. When his father decided the home was finished, the groom went to his bride’s parents’ home and took her home with him. The bride had to be ready. Imagine her packing clothes and household items for her new home. Carefully woven blankets and hand-sewn pillows may be tucked into a box or basket. She didn’t know exactly when the groom would come for her, but she wisely planned so she would be prepared when he came.

Believers in Jesus are called The Church, and also The Bride of Christ. What a wonderful picture Jesus shared with His followers when He told them He was preparing a place for them and for those of us who follow Him now. We don’t know what those rooms or mansions look like, but knowing our Creator, they will be beautiful! He is preparing for His Bride! The book of Revelation describes heaven with gates of pearl and streets of gold.

Jesus will come for us at the right time and bring us home with Him. Our long-distance relationship will be over and we will always be with Him. We can be assured of that because Jesus told us so!  

Like the bride prepared for her groom, let’s be prepared for our being with Jesus. How can we do that?

  • Have a personal relationship with Jesus. Is He the Lord in my life? Is He your Lord?
  • Confess sin and ask for God’s forgiveness.
  • Communicate with Jesus through reading God’s love letters in His Word, and through prayer.
  • Live life in obedience to God.
  • Watch for Him! We don’t know the day or the hour Jesus is coming; Jesus said only His Father knew (Matthew 24:36, 25:13), but I believe we are in the end times and Jesus will return soon.

Our Groom is coming! Be ready!

Dear Jesus, Thank you for preparing a place for me with You in heaven. I marvel that You love me enough to want me with You forever, and that Your love included sacrificing Yourself to rescue me from sin. Such love is beyond my understanding. Thank you. I love You. Help me love You more every day. Amen.

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Thank you for joining me and for reading my devotional blogs.  Blogs post every other Thursday. Past devotionals can be found in the Devotional archive.

Devotional

Rejoicing in Time Together

kathrynhugheswriter

When We Meet Jesus series – Part 1 of 3

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a Mighty One who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you with his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”   Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV)

My husband and I had the blessing of spending time with many groups of faraway family and friends this summer. Before the two trips, there was great anticipation. We could hardly wait to see our dear ones! It had been two years since seeing some relatives, and more than a decade for others.

First, we had to prepare. We packed, and then stuffed the last items into full suitcases. We put addresses and phone numbers into our cell phones so we could contact family and friends, and so we would have maps for the journey. The car had to be prepared too. New brakes and a radiator were installed. For the second trip we rented a car.

Our plans included a birthday party, a wedding, and meeting a new baby. We purchased gifts and the wrapping paper and ribbon to go with them. A few other gifts made it into our stuff as well, as tokens of our love.

After long days of driving, we arrived at our destinations. As we expected, we were greeted with love. As we were gathered into enthusiastic hugs, we knew we were welcome. Conversations revealed excitement in catching up with each other and sharing our lives. Fun times together included meals, visits to museums, music, and photos of past and new memories.

Too quickly the vacations ended and we parted ways again with hopes to see each other again soon.

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Image by Robert Fotograf from Pixabay 

I got thinking about how it will be when we see Jesus.

There’s great anticipation. Will we meet Him in the air when Jesus returns to earth, or see Him at heaven’s gate waiting for us? What will it be like to finally see Jesus face-to-face? It’s been a long wait.

First, we have to prepare. No suitcases are required. We only need to receive the invitation to be with God forever by our adoption into His family. Having a personal relationship with Jesus makes us heirs with Christ! Scripture gives us the only map needed. Jesus said, “I am the way… no one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

Our gifts are the gifts of our lives and devotion to God. The best gift has already been given — from Jesus to us – when He died on the cross to pay for the penalty of our sin. Jesus’ sacrificial gift releases us from the power of sin over us and from the everlasting punishment sin earned. Jesus gives us eternal life with Him!

We will be greeted with love. Just imagine our Heavenly Father gathering us into His embrace! The Mighty One will be in our midst. He will quiet us with His love and exult over us with singing! Our Heavenly Father loves us so much that He sacrificed His only Son for us. I picture Jesus Christ sitting and talking with us like He did with children and with His disciples on earth. Will I begin to understand how much He loves me when I see His scarred hands? Maybe the Holy Spirit will lovingly explain how He moved within us, catching us up on how God’s plan was worked out within us. There will even be a meal, the Marriage Feast of Christ with His bride, the Church. It looks like a big celebration is planned when we are in heaven with Jesus!

This trip will have no ending. There will be no parting of ways, for believers will be with Jesus forever. What rejoicing there will be when we are all together!  I hope the journey is soon!

Are you ready for the journey? Do you anticipate it with happiness? How do you picture Jesus greeting you?

Dear Lord, thank you for the invitation to live with you, and for making my eternal home with you possible. Please help me to live in anticipation each day until I see You face-to-face. Amen

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Thank you for joining me and for reading my devotional blogs.  Blogs post every other Thursday. Past devotionals can be found in the Devotional archive.