The Bride-Groom's Treasure

     Where does the heart lay? “Where you treasure is, there your heart is also.”  (Matthew 6:21) What you long for is what your treasure is and as any treasure, the possession of that treasure is your single, great pursuit. I must confess that my treasure has been of small things of late and that in repentance, I will obtain a greater, more abundant treasure. I must ask forgiveness from you, especially those closest to me. You have not witnessed the fullness of Christ in me and for that, I'm truly sorry and would like your forgiveness. There is no reason for this sinful life, for I have called upon and claimed the name of Christ. I have given myself over as a bond-slave of Christ; to be a pure Bride in waiting for the King. I am generated of a great and beautiful love and graciously given access to that love moment by moment. In the greatest of things, there is a deep Treasure that I'm enslaved to pursue. I have been recreated and at every point, my straying will be corrected by His grace. I have an obligation to submit in this beautiful slavery. It is as true marriage, not 50/50, but 100/0 in perfect sacrificial service for the spouse, that they would know Christ in all the blessing I could possibly pour on them. I have been blessed with a beautiful young lady, who is more than worthy of this slavery, for she is gracious, she is loving and adoring in appreciation, grace and forgiveness. I am unworthy, but He has offered a beautiful gift to me, yes, the gift of slavery, which I joyfully accept.
     Yes, joyfully, as I joyfully accept my Jesus and joyfully accept His calling, I joyfully accept His gift and the privilege of serving such a beautiful woman. I cannot emphasize or express more the need for men to be submissive to Christ, absolutely understanding and patient with their wives, showing all endurance to bear with them to the end as Christ bears with us. We are to love as Christ loves us, yes, as Christ loves us. You don't have just commands, but a personal experience, watch and see how we ought to be. As Christ treats you, so you treat your wife. You must honor her position BESIDE you. Although her arm of authority is given to you for your lead, she is not to be dragged; she is to be kept standing by your strength, walking in your grace as Christ offers His grace to you. We are under Christ, but we are also at His side, in Him, covered by his strength, carried and kept strong in His love. He says that our burden is light, how about your lady's? He says that we are given a sure foundation in Him, how about your lady's foundation in this earth? Are you bearing with the failing of the weak? Are you striving alongside them? Are you compassionate and caring? Are you repentant when you jump forward without warning them? Are you a man? Do you truly seek to show Christ; to lead in the proper manner and way? Do you commend the steps that are taken (which may be persevering with your ignorance of her)? Do you see those steps? Is your greatest treasure on this earth to see the beauty and love of Christ shown in her?
     “Where your treasure is, there your heart is also.” This is a heavy statement. “Do all things unto the glory of God (1 Cor 11:31)… Paul (James, Peter, Timothy, Jude), a bondservant of Christ Jesus (Romans 1:1, Philippians 1:1, Titus 1:1, James 1:1, 2 Peter 1:1, Jude 1:1)…” as these are heavy statements. The greatest men of God that we know of were all at one point considered ‘bondservants’ of Christ. We are grafted into His life, to take from it and live in it, depending upon the very sustenance of His person within us. Brides are called to dependence upon the Bride-groom, spiritual to Christ and physically to their husband. Men, don’t be slave drivers, be a blessing and pour out your lives for your wives, that they would bear much fruit, being an honor and in turn, you an honor to Christ. They bear fruit when you bear fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). Bear fruit in dealing with your ‘lovely’ and in that arena, you will be trained in every arena, for those closest prove the greatest trial. Seek the things above, which bear fruit. Meditate on their well-doing, which bears fruit. Rejoice in the grace that has offered you the power to obey. Rejoice in your obedience, rejoice in His gifts, rejoice in your trials and above all rejoice thoroughly in Christ’s gentle, patient and peaceful love for you, that He bears your burdens to bear others’. The treasure of Christ is your redemption from darkness to light and your attaining of this treasure is in rejoicing while you abide in it. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)”