Dad (Bill Rollins) had the opportunity to speak on sabbath in Tulsa the day before Christopher and Alyssa’s wedding. He cited 2 Corinthians 6:1 “ . . . we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain,” and exhorted us all to be mindful of the opportunity we have at the Feast to experience the glory of God. It’s an appointment set by the King of the universe. As Andy Laws said at the Feast in Michigan in 2017, that means we’d better “suit up and show up.” And we do; we make preparations, reserve accommodations, plan meals, make food, kennel the dogs, and so on. But we also have to be very intentional about preparing to meet with God for eight days. That is, as we’re busy making plans for what we’re going to do, spending time with God has to be at the top of the list - because we’re not just taking a vacation from work. It’s so much more than that!! It’s a rehearsal, a reminder of God’s plan for us as the temple of the living God, the Bride of Christ, the priests of God.
As we were drinking in that exhortation not to miss God’s glory, we experienced a repetition of the admonition: Christopher and Alyssa’s wedding. As the Bride of Christ, Ephesians 5:27 tells us that Jesus cleanses the Bride by the washing of water with the
word. But Revelation 19:7 says that the Bride has made herself ready. We need to make ourselves ready!!
I cannot tell you how many boxes have arrived at our home over the past couple of months, as Alyssa prepared for the wedding. But it wasn’t only the physical decorations and stuff! I’ve gotten to witness discussions about rings, the wedding venue, the date, and the myriad of things Alyssa worked on in preparation for the day. All of the planning, the preparation, the help from family and friends - it has been a lot of work for her. Make no mistake: she wanted to do it. She wanted the wedding to be beautiful. And I found myself wondering if we, if I, spend as much time preparing to be the Bride of Christ.
Christopher and Alyssa wrote their own vows and pledged before God and all of the witnesses to love one another and to build their marriage until death. Have we, do I, exhibit that kind of devotion to Jesus? Do I prefer Him above all others? Submit myself to Him in all things? Love Him with all of my heart, soul, and strength? I’d like to say, “Well, yes! Of course!” But I know myself and how I sometimes want my own way. I sometimes dread what He wants me to go through - a lack of trust? I am struck by the fact that more purifying is necessary before the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Another aspect of the wedding emphasized God’s plan. We talked about the marriage of Christopher and Alyssa and how that links our families together. Now, when Aletha Dennis stands up and calls her family to her, Matt and Renee Steele stand up. Trevor and Krissy Dennis and all of the Whittleys stand up. Shawn and Kim stand up. Then Christopher and Alyssa and all the Saladins. Then the Mannings. And Bill and Sally Rollins.
Then Nate and Sylvia. Then Margo and Bernice. Then Maria and Johnny Snyder. And Aletha looks at Johnny and says, “I didn’t realize I was related to you!!”
We could do something similar with so many of the families in the churches of God. How about the Laws-Gaffney-White-DiFranco-Kincade-Hoefker family? The ties that bind us into a family are growing stronger! And the Feast of Tabernacles is becoming a physical family reunion even as it has always been a spiritual family reunion.
So then, what do our families do when we get together? We talk about God. The whole wedding weekend was a conversation between people who love God, talking about Him, what He’s doing in our lives, what’s happening in our world, His plans, and applicable scriptures which direct us how, then, we should live! Exhorting, discussing, encouraging, reconnecting, rejoicing, celebrating! It’s been a full weekend.
It should come as no surprise then, that amid all of the good-bye hugs and plans for when we will see each other again, there were a few tears. Perhaps because God graciously granted us another opportunity to taste His glory, and we weren’t quite ready for it to be over.
I know I’m eager for the next taste of God’s glory; I don’t want to receive the glory of God in vain!!
🍒 🍒 🍒 🍒 🍒 🍒 🍒 🍒 🍒 🍒 🍒
As we were drinking in that exhortation not to miss God’s glory, we experienced a repetition of the admonition: Christopher and Alyssa’s wedding. As the Bride of Christ, Ephesians 5:27 tells us that Jesus cleanses the Bride by the washing of water with the
word. But Revelation 19:7 says that the Bride has made herself ready. We need to make ourselves ready!!
I cannot tell you how many boxes have arrived at our home over the past couple of months, as Alyssa prepared for the wedding. But it wasn’t only the physical decorations and stuff! I’ve gotten to witness discussions about rings, the wedding venue, the date, and the myriad of things Alyssa worked on in preparation for the day. All of the planning, the preparation, the help from family and friends - it has been a lot of work for her. Make no mistake: she wanted to do it. She wanted the wedding to be beautiful. And I found myself wondering if we, if I, spend as much time preparing to be the Bride of Christ.
Christopher and Alyssa wrote their own vows and pledged before God and all of the witnesses to love one another and to build their marriage until death. Have we, do I, exhibit that kind of devotion to Jesus? Do I prefer Him above all others? Submit myself to Him in all things? Love Him with all of my heart, soul, and strength? I’d like to say, “Well, yes! Of course!” But I know myself and how I sometimes want my own way. I sometimes dread what He wants me to go through - a lack of trust? I am struck by the fact that more purifying is necessary before the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Another aspect of the wedding emphasized God’s plan. We talked about the marriage of Christopher and Alyssa and how that links our families together. Now, when Aletha Dennis stands up and calls her family to her, Matt and Renee Steele stand up. Trevor and Krissy Dennis and all of the Whittleys stand up. Shawn and Kim stand up. Then Christopher and Alyssa and all the Saladins. Then the Mannings. And Bill and Sally Rollins.
Then Nate and Sylvia. Then Margo and Bernice. Then Maria and Johnny Snyder. And Aletha looks at Johnny and says, “I didn’t realize I was related to you!!”
We could do something similar with so many of the families in the churches of God. How about the Laws-Gaffney-White-DiFranco-Kincade-Hoefker family? The ties that bind us into a family are growing stronger! And the Feast of Tabernacles is becoming a physical family reunion even as it has always been a spiritual family reunion.
So then, what do our families do when we get together? We talk about God. The whole wedding weekend was a conversation between people who love God, talking about Him, what He’s doing in our lives, what’s happening in our world, His plans, and applicable scriptures which direct us how, then, we should live! Exhorting, discussing, encouraging, reconnecting, rejoicing, celebrating! It’s been a full weekend.
It should come as no surprise then, that amid all of the good-bye hugs and plans for when we will see each other again, there were a few tears. Perhaps because God graciously granted us another opportunity to taste His glory, and we weren’t quite ready for it to be over.
I know I’m eager for the next taste of God’s glory; I don’t want to receive the glory of God in vain!!
🍒 🍒 🍒 🍒 🍒 🍒 🍒 🍒 🍒 🍒 🍒
RSS Feed