Last weekend we went to a wedding. It was a special occasion, as all marriage celebrations are. This marriage was particularly special. It was a clear declaration by the bride and groom that they were entering into a covenant relationship with God and each other. They gave God the glory!
They had lived together for many years. They have two teenage children. But, since each of them had now entered the Kingdom of God, they wanted to give their relationship to Him. To do it His way, rather than their way.
Heavenly Marriage: a poem
I wrote this poem on my wedding anniversary in September last year. I am truly thankful for a God who redeems relationships. Roger and I were both married before but God, in His grace and mercy, released us into a new redeemed covenant of marriage in which He is the central part. Our wedding was a Kingdom Wedding!
Heavenly Marriage God's marriage is a wondrous gift To earth it comes from heaven From man the woman takes her life And to the man she's given Designed for greater purpose yet True marriage speaks God's worth The crown of all created things For beautiful new birth And yet a greater glory still To show forth God's own Son True marriage speaks a mystery As Christ and church are one As in that glorious union Of God's supreme design The man and woman signify Fullness of love divine The One who gave His all for us To bring us to His side Is head of His own body And beautifies His Bride We celebrate the glory Of God's so perfect plan And praise Him for His marriage Of woman unto man...
God’s Word
I based that poem on a number of key scriptures. Here they are:
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’
Genesis 1:27-28
So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called “woman”, for she was taken out of man.’ That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Genesis 2:21-24
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Saviour. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
Ephesians 5:22-28
After all, no-one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church – for we are members of his body. ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ This is a profound mystery – but I am talking about Christ and the church.
Ephesians 5:29-32
Blessings
Sean and Joanne received sung and spoken blessings upon blessings as they made their commitments to God and each other, both in the nuptial mass at the church and later at the reception which was a joyous celebration.
Thousands of little lights twinkled as the sunlit afternoon melted into the darkness of night. The room was called the Compass Room and its walls were glass, overlooking Media City in Salford. What a broadcast of God’s love!
I had to include a couple of photos here..
The Bakery 