The Best of Me

The Best Part of Me Is You


“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9


At 5:00 pm my wife and I along with our family and some close friends will share in the joy of watching our youngest child follow in the footsteps of his siblings as he gets married today. What makes this wedding even more special for Brandon and Brittany is how long they have waited. The wedding was supposed to take place last year but COVID-19 put the brakes on a public event. Brandon would have been fine getting married in my office at the church. He reminded me of what Harry said in the romance movie, ‘When Harry Met Sally’, “when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” Brittany however was wanting what most girls want in a wedding, “white lace and promises, a kiss for luck and we’re on our way” as the Carpenters would sing. She wanted a wedding with all the bells and whistles so that’s what we will be enjoying today.

Weddings are a beautiful reminder of our relationship with Jesus, His desire for us as the Bride of Christ and the extent Jesus would go to make us His. The Cross is a hefty price to pay and it reveals for us the depth of God’s love and commitment to us. The apostle Paul penned the words that would most likely became the basis for the hit song by Marvin Gaye, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” when the apostle wrote in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

God had a plan all along for marriage between one man and one woman and that was two fold. First, marriage was to cure mans loneliness as in the beginning it was clear that there was none like Adam in anywhere in the Garden of Eden. So God caused a deep sleep to come over Adam and God took a rib from Adams side and fashioned it into woman. The second purpose of God for marriage is fruitfulness. Everything God does bears fruit and the proof of God’s blessing was the fruit of the womb. Adam and Eve could bring forth children. That was the other God intended purpose for marriage, to be fruitful and multiply.

The Bible tells us that a man who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. The reason a couple should get married isn’t because they want to live together but more important for both is they discover in the other person is someone they can’t live without. Marriage is coming to truly believe, “I love who I am when I am with you. You are my dearest friend, my deepest love. You are the very best of me.” We say things like, “this is my better half” or in the church I pastor 99% of the men will readily declare they “married up” speaking about their wife.

My wife and I are joyful in this day watching our son take this step of faith. With God’s help and by His grace they will run their race to the finish line, “until death do us part.” As Brandon makes his vows to Brittany my wife and I are making a vow too. We will love Brittany and Saylor and Max just as if they are our own for on this day they become just that, One. Brandon and Brittany will become one as husband and wife and two families will become one bigger family today too. For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. We are all “in it to win it” you can say.  

Yes, weddings point us to Jesus and remind us of His commitment to us and His unfailing love for us. And just like in a wedding, our union with God is an act of our free will. A wedding vow isn’t considered legal or binding if it’s not entered into as an act of ones own volition, their free will. Love can’t be forced, it’s a gift that we freely give and receive. There would be no wedding today had Brittany not said ‘yes’, and there is no salvation unless we say 'yes' to Jesus too. Say ‘yes’ to Jesus today and let the reception begin!

“Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Luke 15:10

I LOVE YOU!

Michael Osthimer

Recent

Archive

Categories

no categories

Tags

no tags