“(Love) always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.”  (1 Corinthians 13:7-8a)

My memory for events in the past is not always that good.  But certain red-letter days are indelibly impressed into my mind.  Like my wedding.

I remember what the minister said – it was a meditation about “promises.”  I remember the song I sang to Linda and the song we sang together.  I remember the church sanctuary.  I remember the vows we wrote and read to each other.  I remember the reception – the family and friends, the food, the sneaky getaway.  I remember the empty tank of gas in the getaway car.

But mostly I remember my bride.  I remember her appearing at the back on her father’s arm.  I remember watching her walk toward me.  I remember looking into her eyes and being absolutely sure she was the woman I wanted to spend my life with.

Thirty years later, she’s still my bride.  I still love the fact that she’s my last good night and she’s beside me when I wake.  I enjoy being with her and working with her.  She encourages me, she challenges me, and she models for me a life of following Christ.  She still laughs at my humor more than anyone else.

I love my bride.  Does she have flaws?  Of course she does.  But in my mind they are overwhelmed by her beauty, her strength, her character, and her promise.  My whole heart, soul, and body belong to her completely.  I am unconditionally committed to love, honor, and be faithful to her.  I pray for her more than for anyone else.  I would die for my bride.

That’s how Jesus feels about his bride.

Last week I suggested I may have found my new favorite book:  Stop Dating the Church , by Joshua Harris. There was a caveat, however…I hadn’t read the whole book.  Now that I finished, it’s not my all-time favorite.  More on that next week.

But here’s what Harris conveys well:  “Christ’s love for His church is not flighty – He is tender and patient.  His love isn’t fickle – He is committed.  He intercedes on our behalf constantly before the Father.  He nourishes, cherishes, sustains, protects.

“God invented romance and pursuit and the promise of undying love between a man and a woman so that throughout our lives we could catch a faint glimmer of the intense love Christ has for those He died to save.  What passion He has for His Church!”

So the question Joshua Harris raises for us is this:  Do we love His bride as much as He does?  Are we as committed as He is?

I’d love to hear from you on what that looks like in your life or what questions it raises.