It seems like a long time ago now and yet, like
yesterday. I got in the car with a good friend of mine and drove on one of the
longest trips of my life. We had been to a party the night before that had gone
until three. At eight we were on the road. I felt like the proverbial horse
that had been rid hard and put away wet.
Two hours later, I looked down a very long aisle and
saw my wife-to-be walking toward me with her father by her side. I had no idea
what I was getting into.
Marriage is oftentimes used as a metaphor of our
relationship with God, in part because God claims us as bride several times in
Scripture, but also because it is a relationship of trust and interdependence.
So how does one demonstrate love after years of
being together? After more than forty years, I will tell you that sex isn’t the
answer. Sex is good, but sex is not the answer. After thirty-five years it is
even difficult to surprise your partner positively with behavior above and
beyond (although I seem to continue to surprise with disappointments).
We have is a rich history together and a sense of
incompleteness by ourselves. But what demonstrates love in the long haul is understanding
and forgiveness. On those days that understanding is lacking, forgiveness still
does the trick. When your ability to forgive ends, so does the marriage.
This marriage relationship we know with one another
is paled by the relationship we have with God, but it may be the best metaphor
we have. Our behavior as God’s bride would be grounds for divorce in any
culture, yet God continues to find a way to forgive and give. God chooses to
continue to be faithful, loving us, lifting us up when we fail, forgiving us
when we stray, and providing not only what we need but more.
In today’s text we witness just a small glimpse of
God’s forgiving joyfulness over the restored relationship with God’s people.
Prayer
Lord, we can’t thank you enough for your loving
forgiveness. We continue to pray that we might be even pale reflections of that
love for others. Amen
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