Holiness: The Heart God Purifies
By Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Recently, our family has been reading through a book by Nancy Leigh DeMoss titled “Holiness: The Heart God Purifies.” It has been a very convicting and encouraging book throughout, but the last chapter really spoke to me. So, I decided to share it with you!
“Here Comes the Bride!”
“Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride had made herself ready.” ~ The Apostle John
“Imagine for a moment…we’re seated together at a royal wedding. The invitations have been sent, all the preparations have been made, the guests have arrived, the music is playing, the flowers are spectacular- the sanctuary is decked for a king and queen. The bridegroom and his attendants take their places at the front.
The first strains of the wedding march begin to sound. We all rise.
It’s hard to see from where we’re standing off to the side. Finally, we’re able to catch a glimpse of the bride holding the arm of her father, as she begins to move down the aisle toward her bridegroom.
We crane our necks trying to take it all in. As she gets closer, we realize something is wrong! It can’t be – but yes…her veil is torn, and it’s askew on her head.
She gets closer, and we see that it’s not just her veil – her hair is matted and in disarray. She looks like she just got out of bed. And her face – it’s filthy; she has no makeup on.
As she walks by the row where we’re standing, we get a closer look at her dress. It’s unbelievable. Her gown is dishevelled and wrinkled from top to bottom. It looks like it’s been stuffed in a drawer for weeks. Not only that – the once-white dress is covered with an awful assortment of dark stains.
Have you ever seen such a sight? How can this be?
Then we see the saddest sight of all, as she approaches her bridegroom. It’s the look of profound sorrow in his eyes as he realizes that his bride – the one he loves with all his heart –didn’t care enough to get ready for the wedding.
My friend, there’s a Wedding coming.
It’s that Wedding toward which all earthly weddings are intended to point us. The bride broom is a holy Bridegroom, and He must have a holy bride.
And our Savior will have a holy bride. That’s why He loved the church and gave Himself up for her. That’s why He took all those stains and blots on Himself.
“…to make her holy…and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”
~ Ephesians 5:26-27
My goal in life is not that I would be free from problems or pain; it’s not that I would be a best selling author or have a successful radio ministry or get invited to speak at large conferences; it’s not that I would have great relationships or be healthy and financially secure.
My deepest desire is that I would be a holy woman and that the church of Jesus Christ would be holy.
How I look forward to that day when you and I, along with all the other saints from all ages, walk together down that aisle toward our Beloved Bridegroom. I want to face Him with joy – radiant, unashamed, “dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.”
Are you ready for the Wedding? If not, what would you have to do to get ready? Is there a sin you need to confess and forsake? Is there a habit you need to give up –or cultivate? Is there a relationship you need to break off – or reconcile? Are there items in your possession you need to get rid of? Are there debts you need to pay? Are there people whose forgiveness you need to seek? Is there restitution you need to make?
Whatever it is, for Jesus’ sake, for the world’s sake, for His body’s sake, for you family’s sake, for your sake – do it. By His grace and the power of His Holy Spirit – do it.
Nothing, nothing, nothing could be more important. Nothing could bring Him greater glory in our world, and nothing could bring you greater joy –both now and throughout all eternity.”
~ Nancy Leigh DeMoss
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
~2 Corinthians 7:1
We are the bride of Christ and yet, how often we live in a way that is anything but holy. May God have mercy on us. And He does have mercy on us. Just as we who are single ought to keep ourselves pure and set-apart for our future spouses, so too, in an even greater sense, we, as the body and Bride of Christ, ought to keep our lives blameless and holy and be the Bride who has “made herself ready” for the marriage of the Lamb. We have no greater Husband and Shepherd than Jesus Christ; the One who gave His life on the cross that we, His bride, might live. I know that He deserves our worship. I know that He is worthy of our lives. I pray that we would present ourselves before Him spotless, blameless, and clothed in His righteousness, for we are the Bride of Christ.
By Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Recently, our family has been reading through a book by Nancy Leigh DeMoss titled “Holiness: The Heart God Purifies.” It has been a very convicting and encouraging book throughout, but the last chapter really spoke to me. So, I decided to share it with you!
“Here Comes the Bride!”
“Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride had made herself ready.” ~ The Apostle John
“Imagine for a moment…we’re seated together at a royal wedding. The invitations have been sent, all the preparations have been made, the guests have arrived, the music is playing, the flowers are spectacular- the sanctuary is decked for a king and queen. The bridegroom and his attendants take their places at the front.
The first strains of the wedding march begin to sound. We all rise.
It’s hard to see from where we’re standing off to the side. Finally, we’re able to catch a glimpse of the bride holding the arm of her father, as she begins to move down the aisle toward her bridegroom.
We crane our necks trying to take it all in. As she gets closer, we realize something is wrong! It can’t be – but yes…her veil is torn, and it’s askew on her head.
She gets closer, and we see that it’s not just her veil – her hair is matted and in disarray. She looks like she just got out of bed. And her face – it’s filthy; she has no makeup on.
As she walks by the row where we’re standing, we get a closer look at her dress. It’s unbelievable. Her gown is dishevelled and wrinkled from top to bottom. It looks like it’s been stuffed in a drawer for weeks. Not only that – the once-white dress is covered with an awful assortment of dark stains.
Have you ever seen such a sight? How can this be?
Then we see the saddest sight of all, as she approaches her bridegroom. It’s the look of profound sorrow in his eyes as he realizes that his bride – the one he loves with all his heart –didn’t care enough to get ready for the wedding.
My friend, there’s a Wedding coming.
It’s that Wedding toward which all earthly weddings are intended to point us. The bride broom is a holy Bridegroom, and He must have a holy bride.
And our Savior will have a holy bride. That’s why He loved the church and gave Himself up for her. That’s why He took all those stains and blots on Himself.
“…to make her holy…and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”
~ Ephesians 5:26-27
My goal in life is not that I would be free from problems or pain; it’s not that I would be a best selling author or have a successful radio ministry or get invited to speak at large conferences; it’s not that I would have great relationships or be healthy and financially secure.
My deepest desire is that I would be a holy woman and that the church of Jesus Christ would be holy.
How I look forward to that day when you and I, along with all the other saints from all ages, walk together down that aisle toward our Beloved Bridegroom. I want to face Him with joy – radiant, unashamed, “dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.”
Are you ready for the Wedding? If not, what would you have to do to get ready? Is there a sin you need to confess and forsake? Is there a habit you need to give up –or cultivate? Is there a relationship you need to break off – or reconcile? Are there items in your possession you need to get rid of? Are there debts you need to pay? Are there people whose forgiveness you need to seek? Is there restitution you need to make?
Whatever it is, for Jesus’ sake, for the world’s sake, for His body’s sake, for you family’s sake, for your sake – do it. By His grace and the power of His Holy Spirit – do it.
Nothing, nothing, nothing could be more important. Nothing could bring Him greater glory in our world, and nothing could bring you greater joy –both now and throughout all eternity.”
~ Nancy Leigh DeMoss
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
~2 Corinthians 7:1
We are the bride of Christ and yet, how often we live in a way that is anything but holy. May God have mercy on us. And He does have mercy on us. Just as we who are single ought to keep ourselves pure and set-apart for our future spouses, so too, in an even greater sense, we, as the body and Bride of Christ, ought to keep our lives blameless and holy and be the Bride who has “made herself ready” for the marriage of the Lamb. We have no greater Husband and Shepherd than Jesus Christ; the One who gave His life on the cross that we, His bride, might live. I know that He deserves our worship. I know that He is worthy of our lives. I pray that we would present ourselves before Him spotless, blameless, and clothed in His righteousness, for we are the Bride of Christ.
Ive been anxious to find the time to read this post for awhile, Sarah. Its wonderful. I love writings about our Bridegroom. I dont know if you've heard of the band Leeland or not but they have a song called Pure Bride and it is what came to mind immediately as I read this post.
ReplyDeletePure Bride - Leeland
"He's coming for a pure bride. See Him riding in the skies, See the fire inside His eyes. Through the darkness His light will shine, In His glory, He's lifted high. He's coming for a pure bride. He's coming for a pure bride.
The Lord is coming for His bride, make way for the Lord. He's clothing all His children in white, make way for the Lord. What are you doing when no one is watching? What are you doing? Children get your hearts right, God's coming for a pure bride. Children get your hearts right."