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Marriage Proposal
Friday, December 27, 2024 by Rick Stockwell
Marriage Proposal
READ Revelation 19:7-9
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.”
-- Revelation 19:7 (NIV)
After dating Donna for six months, I decided I wanted to marry her. After dinner at a wonderful restaurant, we strolled to a romantic spot on a gliding bench near a river. I got down on one knee, took an engagement ring out of my pocket, and proposed.
The marriage proposal process was quite different for ancient Jews. Marriages were often arranged by the fathers of the bride and groom. The groom would prepare a formal marriage contract called a ketubah and present it to the bride’s father. If the bride and her father accepted the proposal, the groom would return to his father’s house and prepare a place for his bride to live with him. The bride would make herself ready while she waited for the bridegroom. Although the bride knew the groom would return in a year or so, she did not know the day or the hour. When the groom’s father decided the bridal chamber preparations were complete, he would tell his son to claim his bride. A shofar was blown as the bridal procession proceeded from the bride’s home to the place prepared for her.
Although God the Father chose us before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight (Ephesians 1:4), we still must say “Yes” to his Son’s proposal (John 1:12-13). When we do, a contract is made between us, securing our relationship with him forever (John 10:28-29). Jesus left this earth to prepare a place for us (John 14:3). We don’t know the day or hour of his return, but we must prepare for it (Matthew 24:36-51). One day, God the Father will tell his son to retrieve his bride, the church. A trumpet will sound, and all who have placed their trust in him will be changed, then taken to heaven to live with God forever (1 Corinthians 15:51-53).
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Jesus has a proposal for us.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, please help us prepare for the day when you’ll take us to live with you forever.
Prayer Focus: THOSE CONTEMPLATING MARRIAGE
Rick Stockwell
Rick Stockwell is employed as an IT Program Manager. He teaches Sunday school for kindergartners, is an elder at his church, and is the author of two Christian novels: THE WALL and THE BATTLE. He's been married for thirty-four years, and has two children and five grandchildren.
Book link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07HQ8G3MJ
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