as i was doing my daily Jonathan Edwards reading, i came across this amazing exhortation in a sermon on “The Church’s Marriage to Her Sons, and to Her God.” i was really struck by it because there haven’t been very many times where i’ve sat down and thought about those i am going to be ministering to and have gospel authority over. so this passage really made me stop and think about that and i realized how much i desire to teach others and to show them the glory of God’s grace that i have been so blessed to see. even under the immense gravity of the task set before me, my desire is to persevere and to do my part in preparing a bride for Christ. so with that, i’ll share what Edwards says that struck me so deeply:

Let us who are honoured by the glorious bridegroom of the church, to be employed as His ministers, to so high a purpose, as has been represented, be engaged and induced by what has been observed, to faithfulness in our great work; that we may be and act towards Christ’s people that are committed to our care, as those that are united to them in holy espousals, for Christ’s sake, and in order to their being brought to the unspeakable blessedness of that more glorious union with the Lamb of God, in which He shall rejoice over them, as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride. Let us see to it that our hearts are united to them, as a young man to a virgin that he marries, in the most ardent and tender affection; and that our regard to them be pure and uncorrupt, that it may be a regard to them, and not to what they have, or any worldly advantages we hope to gain of them. And let us behave ourselves as those that are devoted to their good; being willing to spend and be spent for them; joyfully undertaking and enduring the labour and self-denial that is requisite in order to a thorough fulfilling the ministry that we have received. Let us continually and earnestly endeavour to promote the prosperity and salvation of the souls committed to our care, looking on their calamities and their prosperity as our own; feeling their spiritual wounds and griefs, and refreshed with their consolations; and spending our whole lives in diligent care and endeavour to provide for, nourish, and instruct our people, as the intended spouse of Christ, yet in her minority, that we may form her mind and behaviour, and bring her up for Him, and that we may cleanse her, as with the washing of water by the word, and purify her as with sweet odours, and clothed in such raiment as may become Christ’s bride. Let us aim that when the appointed wedding-day comes, we may have done our work as Christ’s messengers; and may then be ready to present Christ’s spouse to Him, a chaste virgin, properly educated and formed, and suitably adorned for her marriage with the Lamb; that He may then present her to Himself, a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, and may receive her into His eternal embraces, in perfect purity, beauty, and glory.

amen.