For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Romans 8:6-11
Me: Good morning, Father!
Abba: Good morning, Jon!
Me: I think Romans 8 may be my favorite passage of scripture.
Abba: What is not to like? No condemnation, freedom, righteousness, life, peace, adoption, heirs, glory, hope, help, purpose, deliverance, an protection, just to skim the surface.
Me: The benefits you have given us in Jesus are truly boundless! Thank You! I love You!
Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
Ecclesiastes 8:11 NKJV
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9 NKJV
And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”
Mark 10:26-27 NKJV
Moreover I saw under the sun:
In the place of judgment, Wickedness was there; And in the place of righteousness, Iniquity was there.
I said in my heart,
“God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, For there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”
Ecclesiastes 3:16-17
Good morning, Father!
Abba: Good morning, Jon!
Me: In our news, we hear of the arrest of some judges. The populace is divided as to whether their activities are justified, though they have violated the law. It seems the heart of the verse penned by King Solomon in Ecclesiastes is made manifest in our day, as I assume it was in his.
Judges appointed under more “liberal” administrations seem to have difficulty recognizing the trouble associated with continuing as they have been, now that the pendulum is swinging back the other way. I hear some voices decrying that the arrests are evil retribution and other voices crying that there has to be some way to deal with “activist” judges and hoping for more of the same. I am grateful that You are patient in Your judgment, giving us time for repentance (should we so choose). I pray that more will take stock of how far we fall short, and seek Your favor and Your truth.
Abba: There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 16:25) There was a general societal understanding of right and wrong for a time in your nation’s history. Only a vestige of such understanding remains, a shadow left behind by those who have followed Me. It was left with their children, primarily by example, but delivered without clear sight that these accepted norms could only firmly stand when darkness in individual (yielded) hearts is banished by illumination by My Holy Spirit. As it now stands, there is incessant arguing to twist laws written to make society function well for all. Rather than justice, there is mere justification.
… having a form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away.
2 Timothy 3:5
Without My sustaining power, under the degrading influence of sin, even truth once known will be forgotten. The judgements of men are imperfect for the truth does not reside in them naturally.
Jesus said to him, I AM the way, the TRUTH, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:6
Me: Father, poll results to the question, “Would you consider yourself a ‘born-again’ or evangelical Christian?” was nearly the same in 2022 (33%) as in 1992 (36%). This is likely only a margin-of-error sized change in the past thirty years. Also, according to Gallup, in the same period, the percentage of people who think the Bible consists mostly of “fables and legends” has doubled (from 14% to 29%). These trends make me wonder, “How many true believers are there?” and “What do those who consider themselves ‘born-again’ base that assessment on?”.
Abba: Consider this teaching of Jesus:
Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Matthew 7:13-14
There are many examples in scripture of My call being answered by a mere remnant of those who should have responded. I can empower the faithful to do great things.
In that day the Lord of hosts will be For a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty To the remnant of His people, For a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, And for strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.
Isaiah 28:5:6
(Though the above interjection for the remnant, all of Isaiah 28 bears on these questions, on the failure of priest, prophet, of pride and debauchery and on the painstaking process of growth for those who would seek God and do better. The passage culminates in the promise of the Savior.)
King Saul’s son Jonathan, speaking to his armor bearer, said,
“Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.”
1 Samuel 14:6 (emphasis, mine)
As it was for Jonathan on that day, so it is for those committed to the narrow way, to those who enter by the narrow gate today.
Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door (gate) of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
John 10:7-10
Me: Thank You Father! I love You!
Abba: You are welcome, Jon! I love you!
Gardening Update:
Aerial Photo of concrete-covered lot area south of barn.
The above (admittedly grainy) satellite photo is of the broken concrete south of the barn that covered an old animal-lot area there. The concrete turned out to be about six inches thick. Fortunately, none of this concrete had any reinforcement in it. The bottom-left section held the remains of dirt and more concrete removed from an old cesspool that was taken out near the house when the septic system was installed (to meet code) prior to our purchase of the property. Four feet of extra dirt and broken concrete was on top of the underlying concrete slab. This month, twelve dump-truck loads of concrete were hauled away and four truckloads of Iowa “black dirt” were hauled in to create 3000 more square feet of potential garden.
Added Garden Area
The photo above was taken today, showing what the area looks like after a half-day of tiller work to break up the pavement-like packing that resulted from the tracks of the skid loaders spreading and leveling the fill dirt. Give this four or five years of development and several loads of compost, and who knows? Maybe it will be a garden after all! The structure at the bottom right is the end of an old concrete feed bunker that stretches the entire 50-foot length. We left it there as a retaining wall.
And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 1:14
And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
1 John 4:16
And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:
John 17:22
Me: Good morning, Holy Spirit!
Holy Spirit: Good morning, Jon!
Me: I lament the “divide and conquer” inroads the enemy is making into our society. There is so much discontent, name-calling, accusation, and even outright violence!
Holy Spirit: Do not expect peace to prevail where the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) is rejected. Your statement of gratitude today recognizes that the heart is the residence of Peace.
Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just; for the righteousness of God tests the hearts and minds.
Those who have accepted Our invitation, who have allowed our indwelling have the fulfillment of Ezekiel 36:26 –
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Those who have not accepted will still be subject to hosting evil vitriol, and will remain in fear, be filled with hate, strive in turmoil, and be overrun with anger. This is what you observe around you, to varying degrees of progression. The cure to this terminal sickness was purchased through Jesus’ blood shed for all. However, fear, hate, chaos, and anger are blinding. They obscure the light of Truth (Matthew 10:34).
Let the light you have been given shine (Matthew 5:16). The darkness has no defense against it. Encourage those who will listen to not respond to evil speech in kind. The dark response will merely merge with the darkness that baited them, resulting in more darkness.
From my handwritten journal, dated 3/8/2025 Parable of the marriage supper, with the Holy Spirit.
I am grateful for Your strengthening!
And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
For many are called, but few are chosen.
Matthew 22:1-14
You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
John 15:16 NKJV
Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Matthew
7:20 NKJV
Me: Good day, Holy Spirit!
Holy Spirit: Good day, Jon!
Me: The parable of the marriage feast that Jesus related in Jerusalem after His “triumphal entry” seems to be addressing the religious leaders questioning of His authority.
Holy Spirit: It is an abomination (for) kings to commit wickedness, for a throne is established by righteousness. Proverbs 12:12
[Note: Proverbs 16:12 from Bible Hub HEB: תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת מְ֭לָכִים עֲשׂ֣וֹת רֶ֑שַׁע (mə·lā·ḵîm) highlighted, masculine noun plural, kings NAS: It is an abomination forkings to commit KJV: [It is] an abominationto kings to commit INT: is an abomination kings to commit wicked
The original does not contain either of the indicated prepositions as they are an artifact of translation into English. If “to”, then the sense would be that kings would consider it an abomination for anyone (else) to commit wickedness, an affront to their rule. If “for” then a king committing wickedness would be violating the God-given purpose of their rule. Let the situation determine the application.]
Jesus is righteous. The religious leaders are enamored of their legalist traditions and do not know God as He wants to be known. (I speak in the present tense, for you can not tell me this has entirely changed.) Though the religious leaders on that day were questioning Jesus’ authority, they were really asserting their own (usurped) authority. Jesus was saddened they were missing the point: who God is, and what God wants of each one.
Jesus’ parable of the king inviting to the wedding (representing the Father calling to the marriage of the Son) highlights that all are called.
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
The first called were the children of Abraham. But they thought other things more important. The second invitation foreshadowed the calling of gentiles. Note they were gathered, “both good and bad”.
Me: What about the man who was ejected for not wearing “wedding garments”?
Holy Spirit: All the guests were provided with a wedding garment by the host. Remember, these were brought in directly from the highways.
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Isaiah 61:10 NKJV
And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Revelation 19:8 NKJV
To be welcomed at the marriage of the Lamb, the righteousness of Christ must be put on, by both the good and the bad. The “good and bad” are according to man’s judgments (Psalm 53:1, Mark 10:18, Romans 3:12).
Many expect to justify themselves. Consider the man without a wedding garment was speechless. And this:
And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.
Revelation 1:17a
This was the response of the Apostle John, who leaned on the breast of Jesus in affection at the the last supper before His crucifixion (John 13:23). What do you think will be the response of those who thought other things were more important than the invitation to the wedding feast?
Me: Thank You Holy Spirit! I love You!
Holy Spirit: You are welcome! I love you!
Dear Reader, In reading along, I hope you have found a fraction of the benefit that I have received in pursuing a better understanding of this call to all who will accept the invitation of the Bridegroom. – Jon
And he saith unto me, “Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he saith unto me, “These are the true sayings of God.”
Revelation 19:9
Me: Good morning, Father!
Abba: Good morning, Jon!
Look: Matthew 22:1-14 in which are the words of Jesus’ parable of the wedding banquet. But I want you to consider this parable in light of the passion in my heart.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
The sons of the promise I made to Abraham have only intermittently sought My presence but have consistently returned to that which divided their attention. Though I have sought them continually, still their hearts have not returned. This is what Jesus was relating in the first seven verses of Matthew 22.
Me: Surely this is not the end of the story for Israel, is it?
Abba: May it never be! That is part of the message of the Holy Spirit to you yesterday. Israel was no more able to attain to the demands for righteous behavior under the Old Covenant than anyone else. The law should have convinced them of their inability to keep it outside of Me but they continued to congratulate themselves on being descended from Abraham and therefore in line for the promise I made to him (Genesis 12:1-3). Now they are invited as part of the second group in the parable (Matthew 22:8 and Revelation 19:9).
Again, look at the last part of the parable (verses 11-14), the king’s response to the man not wearing “wedding clothes”, provided for everyone for the host. This compares to the robe of righteousness provided by Jesus:
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Isaiah 61:10 KJV
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Revelatiohn 19:8
This clean white linen garment is representative of the righteousness of Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
And this:
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matthew 7:21-23 KJV
John 6:27-29 provides stark contrast to the works of those seeking to enter on their own righteousness and self-effort:
Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Me: Thank You Father! I love You! Thank You for the eternal provision and right standing that come through relationship with You, though Jesus!
Abba: You are welcome! I love you (which should be obvious by now)!
PS: I have mentioned it before, but quoting from the KJV is not because I am especially enamored of the translation, but because it is in the public domain.
Taken from my handwritten journal entry of 2/22/2025. This is eighth in a series of meditations around the bride of Christ.
I am grateful that You are merciful!
The word of the Lord that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea. And the Lord said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the Lord. So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.
Hosea 1:1-3 KJV
Me: Good morning, Holy Spirit!
Holy Spirit: Good morning, Jon!
Me: I have found it surprising the instructions given to Hosea, to make his own life a demonstration of the nature of Israel’s behavior toward You and your displeasure at their hardness of heart and unfaithfulness.
Holy Spirit: Hosea tells both sides. In Hosea 2, speaking of Israel:
And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord.
Hosea 2:19-20
In the end, many in Israel will join with those not of Israel, but who have come to the Lord, and whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Philippians 4:3, Revelation 3:5, 13:8, 17:8,20:15, 21:9 and Revelation 21:27)
So, Hosea shows from what manner of unfaithfulness the bride has been sanctified and her redemption.
This is #7 in a series of meditations on the “bride of Christ”, taken from my handwritten journal, dated January 26th 2025.
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Isaiah 61:10
Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.
For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.
Beulah, also v4: to marry, rule over, possess, implies covenantal relationship.
[I highly recommend reading Isaiah 61 & 62 in their entirety.]
Me: Good afternoon, Father!
Abba: Good afternoon, Jon!
Me: How often Your word links salvation to the bride adorning herself for the bridegroom!
Abba: The bride’s heart is to appear her most “presentable” for her intended. She hopes for his delight. And indeed, his pleasure is in her.
Note from whence she has come. From the place where her names were Forsaken and Desolate, to rejoicing and joined by covenant to the One of her desire.
The bride’s adornment is a picture of the transformation effected by My clothing you with salvation and allowing you to put on My righteousness as a robe.
Taken from my handwritten journal, dated Sunday, January 12, 2025
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:2-3
I am grateful for the salvation that allows us to be referred to as “chaste”, Jesus exchanging His own perfection with our corruption!
Me: Good morning, Father!
Abba: Good morning, Jon!
Me: In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul is writing to the Corinthians who are being led toward the legalization of Judaism as it was practiced (formerly by Paul!). Would you help me understand more about this bride-of-Christ verse?
Abba: Paul is relating his (and My) affection and sense of fatherly responsibility toward the Corinthians. In the culture of the day, fathers arranged marriage for their daughters. The daughter was expected to respect the wisdom of her father to act/choose in her best interests. The method you are used to has the daughter choosing a mate for herself, often based on how she feels about it emotionally. In Paul’s culture, the daughter would not have been regarded as having enough experience to make a good decision and the emotional aspect would have been seen as obscuring potential trouble, due to the rationalizations that can accompany strong desire. You should see, therefore a sense of the father’s responsibility to protect his daughter. Paul is expressing this same desire for protection of the Corinthian believers from being deceived. Paul is reflecting My jealousy that my children have an unsullied relationship with Me.
Not all fathers are wise. Not all arranged marriages were truly in the best interest of the daughter. There were marriages to establish political (and other) alliances. I AM not like that, which Paul knew well.
Old Covenant expressions of this desire incorporate an aspect of punishment for disobedience (Exodus 20:5, 34:14, Deuteronomy 4:24, 5:9, 6:15, Nahum 1:2) but the aim is for relationship:
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might (Deuteronomy 6:5)
All the punishment for sin has been borne by Jesus. Yet, those who are determined to stand on their own righteousness, can have whatever they say (Mark 11:24, Romans 3).
Me: Thank You Father, that the New Covenant offers a way through Jesus to break the natural “passing down” of iniquity to children (Exodus 20:5).
Abba: In Jesus, this generational contamination is broken for those who accept salvation and walk in it.
#5 in a series of inquiries concerning the bride of Christ. Taken from my handwritten journal entry, dated 12-28-2024.
I am grateful for your word telling what is to come!
9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. 18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. 22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Revelation 21.
[Isaiah 54 speaks of some similar precious-stone construction. Isaiah 65 contrasts the idolatrous and those who seek the Lord, explicitly prophesying of Jesus (a seed from Jacob). Also included there is a reference to the mountains of God.]
Me: Good afternoon, Holy Spirit!
Holy Spirit: Good afternoon, Jon!
Me: Can You please help me with these descriptions of the bride of the Lamb as the new Jerusalem?
Holy Spirit:
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Matthew 23:37
The buildings of a city do not choose. Rather, it is those who reside within. The new Jerusalem is established under the New Covenant. It is peopled by those who are in the Lamb’s book of life, not by those who “would not”, but by those who have said “Yes!” and “Amen!” to the Lamb’s proposal. (Even as a marriage is predicated on the bride saying, “Yes!”.
Notice the spectacle of the new Jerusalem “coming down out of heaven from God”. (Rev 21:2,10) This exact phrase is used twice to make sure you take notice of it. The new Jerusalem is of God. Remember Jesus’ words, “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:3). And “I will come again and receive you unto Myself; that where I Am there you may be also.” This is expressing Jesus’ heart the same as Matthew 23:37, but a NEW Jerusalem was required to bring this desire to fruition.
Me: Thank You Holy Spirit! I love You! How marvelous that Your word has made these things that will be known from of old!
This is second in a series, from hand-written journal of December 16th, 2024. Previous installment is here.
And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. Luke 1:45-55
Me: Good evening, Jesus!
Jesus: Good evening, Jon!
Me: The last time you offered insights into several things about the meaning of “the bride of Christ”, Most notably, your desire to be one with us (with me!). Would you say more?
Jesus: What would you like to know?
Me: Where does the scripture reference Your bride?
Jesus: Let’s start today with Ephesians 5:25 – 27, that I showed you before:
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Have I not given Myself for you? In not the very purpose of My word your sanctification? If you continue to allow My word to change your heart you will be completely transformed. These things are true in My Spirit which is alive in you forevermore. If you allow Me, I will remove all blemishes. (John noted in the beginning of John chapter one that I Am the Word. I Am doing the washing.)
Look what exchanged between Peter and I: “No!”, said Peter, “You will never wash my feet!” I answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.” (John 13:8)
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. (Ephesians 5: 22-24)
You must let Me serve you in this washing, Even as I told Peter, who was not exclaiming “No!” out of pride. Rather he spoke out of his (accurate) sense of his own unworthiness. I Am not blind to the nature of your sin. Yet I took it upon Myself, despising the shame that you were already bearing, because I love you and I want you to be “without spot or wrinkle or any such thing”. I Am making you holy and blameless. Nothing is too hard for Me.
I have never overruled your free will. I am not about to start doing so. It is up to you whether you will submit to the washing of the water of the word. Look back to My prayer that we be one (John 17). My word never returns void but always accomplishes that which I send it to do (Isaiah 55:11). I have sent it to make us one.
Missionary Sojourn 