Day 25

Husbands, love you wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot of wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loved his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the Church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the Church. Ephesians 5:25-32
Our focus today is on the cleansing and sanctifying properties of the Word of God that prepare us for being presented to Jesus as His Bride on that day. In the second chapter of the book of Esther, we are told how Esther, as one of the candidates to become the Queen of King Xerxes, was taken through a 12-month process of baths and perfume applications so that she would be ready for the day of her presentation to the king. When that day came, she was radiant and totally pleasing to him, and was declared to be the king's new bride!
This is what happens to us when we take the Word of God into our hearts on a frequent and consistent basis through meditation and through devotional prayer. The Spirit of Jesus uses the Word to cleanse and prepare us in the beauty of holiness so that we will be like Him on that day. Notice how our interaction with the Word is not to be a dutiful thing, but something that is driven by romance and by the anticipation of His great pleasure in us. As you meditate on the Word today and in the coming days, let your heart be settled in the truth of His love, and that you are being made ready to meet Him on that day!
Prayer: Jesus, come wash me with Your Word! Make me ready for Your own pleasure,and cause me to desire the preparations that You have set in place with me in mind. Thank You for loving me enough to prepare me for Your good pleasure."
Day 25 of devotional "Forerunner Meditations: Discovering the Father's heart: by Gary Wiens