I Do

Psalms 56:12 NIV

I am under vows to you, my God; I will present my thank offerings to you.

-When I read the word vows, I think of the promises my wife and I made before God when we got married to honor, love, cherish, and protect. As the Church we are to be the bride of Christ and He is our bridegroom. When I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior I was essentially saying "I do" and "I will".

In my marriage to my wife, I do not expect perfection. I know that she won't always do the things exactly the way I want or think they should be done. What I do expect is for her to always consider me, and our covenant to be of one flesh in the things she does. And I expect good times or bad she will always come to me so that I may bear her burdens with her. Our God is a jealous God. And I suppose I am a jealous husband in the same sense. If my wife had an area in her life that she kept from me I would not be ok with that. As Christ's bride it is no different. There should not be a single area of my life that I don't share with Jesus. How grateful I am that Christ chose to propose to me. It moves me to tears to know that He chose me to be His bride knowing all the baggage that came with me. He knew all the dirty little secrets from my past and even the extent of the mistakes I would make in the future. He didn't get cold feet or change His mind and run away. He bore my sin and shame and committed Himself to me when He said, "I do" and "I will" on the cross. How can I not be filled with gratitude and praise and continue to resound "I do" and "I will" over and over as He asks me to follow Him, to trust Him, to know Him, to make Him known.

I do……I will.

*Heavenly Father, I praise you and thank you for your Son Jesus who by our marriage to Him we are made righteous in your sight. Lord, help me to honor that marriage by considering Jesus in all things and to not keep any part of me or my life from Him. Help me to be a faithful bride. Help me to look to Christ and give me strength through the Holy Spirit to be a husband to my wife that reflects the example that you've shown me.

In Jesus name. Amen.

Shane Gehlert