Perfect Day for Imperfect Nuptials

It was a perfect day for imperfect nuptials.

The sky was clear and bright.  The Sun was warm, but not oppressive.  A gentle breeze cooled the wedding party as the army of photographers snapped away, cautiously respectful of the worship atmosphere.  The families were warm and kind to each other.

The groom stood tall and straight, exuding a leader's nobility, as he eagerly awaited the procession of his bride.  The bride was exquisite in white, a true beauty gracefully walking down the aisle on her loving father's arm.

Even if you had not counseled them for several months before the day of their union, you could easily tell from their excitement, from the look of sheer delight in their eyes, that they were, in the best sense, in love.

It was a perfect day.

But it is just one day.  It will not last.

The bridegroom will not always have the strength of nobility.  The bride will not always be an untarnished beauty.  Storms will darken the sky.  Families will quarrel.  The heat of the argument will beat down upon them.

Yet love can endure.  It can endure, not because love is so powerful of an emotion, but because it is not an emotion at all.

Love is a commitment that one makes to another.  And it expresses itself in acts of service, great and small, throughout the length of a long and enduring marriage.

This commitment is strengthened, however, when the two who have now become one are the continual recipients of the Lord Jesus and His undying love.  When they receive the forgiveness of their many sins, purchased and won on the cross of Calvary, on a regular basis they are inclined and empowered to forgive each other.

And forgiveness is love in action. This perfect couple will have to humble themselves when their imperfections finally show.  They will have to show love when it really counts.  They will forgive one another in the name of Jesus.
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:1-5)  

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