Radiant Bride / Church

Hmmm ... seems to be on my screen lately about problems in marriages.  So i paid attention when i got an email devotional talking about it - specifically about the man's role. (The Radical Side of "I Do" - #6590, http://www.hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-relationships/the-radical-side-of-i-do-6590?utm_campaign=bd594d9bbc-AWWY+6590&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Ron+Hutchcraft+Ministries%2C+Inc.)

A couple of things stuck out to me, the first of which i'll discuss in this blog.  It is the truth about Christ's work to present the Church to Himself as "...a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."  (Ephesians 5:27, NIV, emphasis mine) When i read "radiant", i thought about Psalm 34 (emphasis mine):

Psalm 34:4-6, (NIV)

⁴ I sought the LORD, and he answered me;

he delivered me from all my fears.

⁵ Those who look to him are radiant;

their faces are never covered with shame.

⁶ This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;

he saved him out of all his troubles.

i'm sooooooooooooooo grateful for what God has done - for me, for all of us:

2 Corinthians 4:6

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Again, it is such a precious thing, the LORD's doing which is marvelous in our eyes:

Isaiah 60

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Gentiles Bless Zion

Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
² For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.
³ The Gentiles shall come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.

⁴ “Lift up your eyes all around, and see:
They all gather together, they come to you;
Your sons shall come from afar,
And your daughters shall be nursed at your side.
⁵ Then you shall see and become radiant,
And your heart shall swell with joy;
Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,
The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.
⁶ The multitude of camels shall cover your land,
The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah;
All those from Sheba shall come;
They shall bring gold and incense,
And they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord.
⁷ All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together to you,
The rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you;
They shall ascend with acceptance on My altar,
And I will glorify the house of My glory.

Jude 1:24-25

New Living Translation (NLT)

A Prayer of Praise

²⁴ Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. ²⁵ All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.

... and my journey with Him continues ...