Are You in the Bride of Christ?

Are You in the Bride of Christ?

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matt. 6:31-33.

Even in the world it is considered in bad taste to show an interest in the wedding gifts when you make or accept a marriage proposal. How much more so when we think of Jesus and His bride!

“They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” John 17:16. “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” V. 18.

It would be preposterous to imagine that Jesus, sent by His Father, would be anxious for food and clothing. Furthermore, we read that the disciples were also sent into the world as Jesus was sent into the world. In this case it is just as meaningless for them to be anxious for clothing and food or to seek such things. If a person doesn’t see it just as meaningless, it is because he does not believe; he does not consider himself a disciple.

When you hear religious people testifying about how good and almighty God is, it generally concerns the help they have received in their earthly circumstances and the blessing it has been to them. And when they speak about answers to prayer it almost always concerns earthly circumstances—things that are to be added to us—also when they ask for prayer. This is not the mind of Christ. When you listen to what people are speaking about after the meeting, it usually has to do with earthly things—things that are to be added to them. Generally speaking, they are not interested in the Bridegroom outside of what is to be added to them. Jesus is not fooled by such love even though He lets it rain over the just and the unjust and lets the sun shine over the good and the evil.

Once we understand this, it is easy to recognize whether one is of the bride or not. “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” Col. 3:2. “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” V. 4. The bride has to have Jesus’ mind and interests so there can be fellowship.

What does it mean to love Jesus? It means to love His life. We have been chosen to proclaim His virtues (1 Pet. 2:9), which is the fruit of the Spirit. Gal. 5:22. Then Christ becomes our life. Then we will be revealed together with Him in glory. That is the bride. She is not interested in the things that are added to us; she is interested only in Him. Her heart’s attitude is what Paul says: “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Phil. 1:21.

“Let your conduct be without covetousness, and be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Heb. 13:5.

“Be content with such things as you have.” Then you have rest. How could Jesus’ bride possibly be dissatisfied? Borrowing money to be more fashionable? Making plans for earthly things for which they do not have the means? Then it has not been added to them. They are restless because they want things they don’t have, and so they are dissatisfied. They want to keep up with the others, and so they borrow money from brothers and sisters and don’t even keep their promise to pay it back. What about such people’s generosity??? We are exhorted to share with the others. If such people are to share with the others, they would have to share other people’s possession with others.

The mind of the bride is: “But indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” Phil. 3:8.

With this, everyone can test himself whether he is in the bride or not.