THE TWO BECOME ONE

Time with Jesus - Thursday, 26 April 2012

Hi all,

The Swaziland weather continues to be wet and cold. Not that I mind the cold. Those who know me know how I struggle with the heat. At times I have to take a small towel with me to cope sitting through a church service. Mind you, some preachers are so boring; I need a towel to catch tears. Home on Friday!

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Time with Jesus – Thursday, 26 April 2012
INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES					THE TWO BECOME ONE
Today’s Scriptures are very interesting. They focus on Jesus Christ and His love for His People – His Church. It begins with the acknowledgement of her beauty by the young women. It progresses through the protection of the Church against false teachers and the love required by a husband for his wife. It culminates in heaven with a description of a glorious woman about to marry the Lord Jesus Christ. It concludes with Jesus’ “gift” to His bride; the same glory His Father had given Him. In our meditation, these aspects have all been drawn into one. I’ve described a wedding between Jesus and His bride. The poem is allegorical rather than something to be taken literally. This is not intended as doctrinal. It incorporates some features observed as a marriage officer as well as my own personal experience. Included is the reaction of the people – a reference to the young women in Song of Songs who played their part in making this wedding a reality As a marriage officer I have had the privilege of standing next to the groom and seeing many brides walking down the aisle. For me it remains one of the most moving parts of the wedding service. Seeing the faces of brides and grooms at this high point in their lives has prompted me to attempt to describe it. There is a very special beauty in the deep love expressed inaudibly to each other as they have come together and made their marriage vows. What has this to do with Jesus marrying His bride? Perhaps very little. However I know what was in my mind as my bride (Phyllida) walked towards me on the arm of her eldest son. It was awesome. Suddenly I wanted to be a husband who would lay down his life for his wife in the way Scripture describes. It’s still true! I find it hard to believe that what I have known and experienced is not a small expression of what the Lord will feel when He marries His bride! He sometimes allows His people to get glimpses of the reality He will bring in due course. If I have captured only 1% of this reality I will have achieved more than I dare to believe. Within the poem I’ve included comments toward the end of the poem regarding Jesus inviting His “wife” to join the Trinity. Once again this is an allegorical comment. It describes the oneness between a husband and wife. We know that His wife will be One with Him. The impact of this on Father, Son and Spirit will be significant. It reminds me vividly of the Lord’s High Priestly prayer in John 17. This prayer has eternal implications beyond anything and everything we can imagine. To share His glory with us the way He shares His Father’s glory, beggars the mind. To some extent it also provides an answer to why we were created. It was not to be some kind of Divine exhibition of humanity in the Zoo of His imagination. The purpose was far higher than that. Fathers want to lavish love upon their sons. They often “glory” in their son’s bride. Could it be that our Heavenly Father wishes to do much the same for His Son? Does He not also want to incorporate His Son’s “wife” into the family? I don’t know. Just perhaps there is a measure of truth in this idea? Jim & Phyllida Strickland		10 [The chorus of young women] Who is this young woman? She looks like the dawn. She is beautiful like the moon, pure like the sun, awe-inspiring like those heavenly bodies. Song of Solomon 6:10 GW					He looked at her enraptured! Could He believe His eyes? Such beauty; was it possible beneath God’s cloudless skies? Who had been inspired that she be clothed like this? The urge to take her in His arms, to hold her and to kiss, Her lips as red as crimson He hardly could endure! Her eyes were bright as diamonds; her nails were manicured. The light shone on her wedding dress, exquisite in His sight. It glowed with holy righteousness, incredibly bright. It seemed the sun was shining from within her wedding dress, Casting sunbeams round her, of faultless loveliness. There was no spot, nor wrinkle that anyone could see! He wondered, ”Is it possible that anyone could be, Even half as beautiful? She’s perfect as my queen! Beyond all expectations or what any man could dream.” His heart went “pitter-patter” with expectancy and zeal “Do My eyes deceive Me and is she truly real?” I’ve looked at many virgin brides and know what I’ve been told. But she appears more ravishing than all I could behold! Here is now the woman, for whom I’ll give My life. And in a few short minutes, I’ll take her as My wife.” She took a step toward Him. The people gasped in awe! Was such a vision possible? They couldn’t take much more. They felt intoxicated! Who could this woman be, Who gives herself in marriage to the Man from Calvary? Where is her special father? Where is the wife who bore, This vision of exquisiteness, whom angels will adore? She started walking slowly; she looked at Him and smiled. He felt He had been smitten and was utterly beguiled. “Poetry in motion”, is what went through His mind. Nowhere in eternity could man or angel find, Anyone more fitting than the one with whom He’d wed. Live with for eternity, the way the Scripture’s said. Suddenly, in front of Him He noticed her bouquet. The fragrance and her loveliness quite took His breath away. Then she was beside Him. He saw her catch her breath. He remembered everything that led up to His death! This was whom He’d thought of as they drove home the nails. This was now the moment! No longer “fairy tales” He heard the question being asked; and then He said, “I do!” He added, “O My precious one, I have a love for you, Beyond what I thought possible. This is our wedding day. From this moment onward, if you honour and obey, You will have your heart’s desire. I’m yours and you are mine. You will be a member of the Trinity Divine Now that we are married, the two of us are one. Father, Spirit, Son and wife. The former things have gone” Jim Strickland - Written 26th April 2012
		28 "So guard yourselves and God's people. Feed and shepherd God's flock--His church, purchased with His own blood--over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders. 29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. Acts 20:28-29 NLT
		25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up His life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God's word. 27 He did this to present her to Himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. Ephesians 5:25-27 NLT
		1 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Revelation 12:1 ESV
		7 Let us celebrate, let us rejoice, let us give him the glory! The Marriage of the Lamb has come; his Wife has made herself ready. 8 She was given a bridal gown of bright and shining linen. The linen is the righteousness of the saints. Revelation 19:7-8 MSG
		21 "I'll give those who overcome the right to sit with me on my throne. In the same way, I overcame. Then I sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 "Those who have ears should listen to what the Holy Spirit says to the churches.'" Revelation 3:21-22 NIrV
		21 Father, I pray that all of them will be one, just as you are in me and I am in you. I want them also to be in us. Then the world will believe that you have sent me. 22 "I have given them the glory you gave me. I did this so they would be one, just as we are one. 23 I will be in them, just as you are in me. I want them to be brought together perfectly as one. This will let the world know that you sent me. It will also show the world that you have loved those you gave me, just as you have loved me. John 17:21-23 NIrV
Compiled – Thursday, 26 April 2012	P O Box 1694, Randpark Ridge, 2156, South Africa			Page 1 of 1	14 Conduit Street, Johannesburg North, 2153, South Africa			Printed - Wednesday, 25 April 2012
Email - jim.s@telkomsa.net - ejsnpbs@gmail.com Phyllida@telkomsa.net	Mobile +2782 755 8872		Jim & Phyllida Strickland			Home+2711 462 4061; Neotel+2711 234 5670		Fax +2786 531 4962
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