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The Daily Word of Righteousness
The Church Within the Churches, #9
What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:8—NIV)
We, through the grace of Christ, must make ourselves ready. God will not do all the work for us, neither can our readiness be imputed to us. We must "win Christ," with the Lord's help.
Patience in affliction.
Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. (Revelation 3:4)
The members of the Bride must be found worthy by the Lord, and their worthiness is demonstrated by their patience in affliction.
Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. (James 5:10)
The Lord God provides every saint with the opportunity to demonstrate his worthiness of the Kingdom of God.
So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: (II Thessalonians 1:4,5)
The Bride of the Lamb is called to rulership, and all the rulers of the Kingdom must experience suffering in the world. The believer in Christ who is unwilling to accept the afflictions and imprisonments into which the Holy Spirit leads him cannot possibly become a member of the firstfruits.
There is no way by which we can escape the suffering of Christ and still be raised as a royal priest in the first resurrection, in the resurrection and ascension that will take place when Christ appears in the clouds of glory.
Service. We have mentioned previously that the Bride wins the affection of the Bridegroom by serving Him faithfully. The Lord Jesus desires that we give our attention to Him and to what He is saying and not be encumbered with the endless chores of this present life ("Mary hath chosen that good part"—Luke 10:42). But it is true also that the Lord Jesus expects us to be diligent and fruitful in the Kingdom of God. When we are not busy about our Father's business we can expect to be rebuked sternly by the Lord.
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:30)
Union. Of all the areas of discipleship and redemption, union with Christ is so supremely important that the other areas become relatively insignificant. The marriage of the Lamb is an event of such profound importance that all the other aspects of the universe receive their significance, purpose, and direction from it.
The essence of marriage is union.
The current belief is that at some point in the future every Gentile Christian, having attained union with Christ or not, will be carried up to Heaven. There a wedding ceremony will be conducted. The Bride and Groom will stand before God the Father. On the Groom's right hand will be His best man, perhaps John the Baptist. On the Bride's left hand will be some of the saints from the Old Testament who will serve as the maid of honor and the bridesmaids.
The audience will be the elect angels.
To be continued.