I was driving in the car on what felt like a time-consuming and futile errand when the song lyrics from the Charity Gayle song I Believe caught my attention—
Coming back for a spotless bride
I don’t know about you, but I feel pretty spotty. The image I have in my head is of a woman dressed in a previously glistening gown which was once pristine, but she has been mucking through the wildfire- and flood-prone slog of Christian life (see James 1) of trying to do what she is supposed to, and in the process, cleaning up feces and having it occasionally flung at her. More mud-based and covered than spotless.
Jesus has always been the God of tautologies and paradoxes. Faith is the spotless bride. Faith and the call to be washed in the blood of the Lamb.
I do not exactly know how the muddied, bloodied, messed up Bride of Christ will emerge spotless, but I know that “the servant is not above the Master.”
Jesus was broken for his bride, why should we not be broken for him?
He is worthy of it all, and
Tend your lamps, girls
He is coming back soon.
Carrying Light 