A bride crossing the street …

Last week I sat at a coffee shop in the downtown square of McKinney, Texas while a mechanic searched for ways to take money from me.

After a few hours, I tossed my backpack across my shoulder and headed out the door to return to the auto shop. Crossing the street and heading down the shop-lined sidewalk, I was suddenly taken by surprise when a bride turned the corner and headed my direction.

Yes, a bride.

At least, it was a woman in a wedding dress, accompanied by another woman who assisted with the train of the dress as they changed their direction and crossed the street.

I was quickly reminded how beautiful a woman looks as a bride. From the way this woman had styled her hair, to the perfect tailoring of her immaculate dress, this bride was a beauty. No doubt, when she turns the corner to walk down the aisle, her groom will be taken with the beauty of his bride.

It’s not every day you see a bride strolling the sidewalk in a downtown square.

But it should be.

Not necessarily a female looking to get married, but each day the bride of Christ should be evident in our town squares. And when the citizens see the bride of Christ in their town, they should be taken by a beauty of good deeds and greeted with an invitation to come join in the wedding feast …

“Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder: ‘Praise the Lord! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.’ For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people. And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.’ And he added, ‘These are true words that come from God,'” Revelation 19:6-9.

Is your local church a beautiful bride of Christ in your town? Or is there some other, lesser reputation placed upon your local congregation? What would it take to become Christ’s beautiful bride to your community?

Scotty