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A Prayer of Knee-buckling Heart-palpitating Joy

 

As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. Isa. 62:5 

Dear Lord Jesus, I fully realize I’m not the point, and I rejoice in the fact that all of history is pointing toward the day when your redeemed people restored creation will make much of you. I greatly long for the day when you will finally receive the every-nation, all-creation worship you deserve. (Rev. 4-5)

That being said, it is profoundly humbling to realize how much you make of us, as your beloved bride. Knowing you’ve forgiven all of our sins is more than enough reason to praise you for all eternity. Knowing you’ve covered us with your own righteousness is reason to praise you for ten eternities. But to realize that you delight in us and rejoice over us, bridegroom to bride, is staggering. What wondrous love is this, indeed!

You’ve made a most unlikely people your bride and queen. This isn’t the story of Cinderella we’re in. There was nothing about us, or in us, that made us attractive to you. We’re the mean stepmother and the two conniving stepsisters, so ill-deserving of ever knowing the unparalleled privilege of being your bride. But you’ve made us your own. You died for us, and now you live for us; and you greatly cherish us.

Presently, you’re nourishing and preparing us for yourself, through the riches of the gospel. One Day we will be radiant with your beauty, filled with your joy, and liberated forever; for we will see you as you are and we will be made like you. But on that Day—our wedding day, you will not rejoice in us one bit more than you rejoice in us today.

Indeed, the saints in heaven are more joyful than we are; but they are not more loved. I believe this because the gospel is true; but I want to believe it with all of my heart, so that, with unfettered abandon, I might love and serve you more fully, well before that Day. So very Amen I pray, in your tender and triumphant name.

 

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