Partnership

Yo.

A few days ago I got to see something really beautiful. Although I guess I knew it was happening, I hadn't really understood how great it was until I saw it in person. I had nothing scheduled, so when I was invited I decided to go.

Saturday afternoon a friend of mine got married to his beautiful fiancée. It was in this big church that had a lot of exposed wood in the beams and panels, it was spacious and bright, it had simple and elegant colors. All of the wedding party was well dressed and there were flowers and a great ceremony. But the best part of it, as always, was that both the bride and groom don't put each other as the most important thing in their lives; Jesus is the center of their lives. The pastor explained how he saw this in both of them and how that is truly the basis of a great marriage; a partnership in the gospel and seeking God's kingdom and righteousness first. Singing songs to our mighty and gracious God and asking Him to be glorified through their lives, wherever He sends them. The vows were also striking. In the vows both bride and groom said the same thing, but what was more striking was how at the end of the vows they said they wouldn't be able to live up to these promises but would confess shortcomings and talk it through together, showing grace as God has shown them.

As beautiful as that was, and it really was, I was actually more struck by another event.

Friday evening I had been invited to go to the Chinese Young Adult group at my church. It was great getting to meet and talk with a bunch of new friends who were international students, but by far the best part was seeing the way the leaders were working together in harmony to share the gospel with them. Some of the students led worships songs and small group discussions, and some of the aunties and uncles on the Chinese congregation led the main study, shared testimony, prepared food, were warm and inviting. It was so awesome to see this. In general my picture of the Chinese congregation had been less than flattering, but this was really encouraging to see how God is really working through them. On Sunday I picked up the 2014 annual report, and what I had forgotten is that some of the Chinese young adults had been baptized just after Christmas. Not only is God using this ministry to really unite and build up the Chinese congregation for gospel ministry, He is also bearing fruit through them and it's just so beautiful to see.

By far the greatest and most beautiful partnership is that between God and the church; Him choosing and loving us, and us now forgiven and redeemed from sin submitting to His gracious will and perfect plans for our lives. And together working that all may know His grace.

As it says in Ephesians, marriage is a picture of God's relationship with the church:

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”  This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Ephesians 5:25-33 NIV