Bloghardt's Reflector

"So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no man separate." (Matt. 19:6)

In the name of Jesus. Amen. Tim and Jennifer, it is finally time. He's done it. He's about to do this. All Jesus. All gift. He's joining you together!

The Father is in the business of giving gifts. He loved us in the sending of His Son. Before we were born, before we even had a thought for Him, He showed His love by giving His Son. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Even us, who don't deserve Him.

That's how the Father cared for us - He gave up His Son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

Before, you were born, Tim, it was to His good pleasure to decide to give you this beautiful woman. Jennifer, before you were born, it gave Him a serious case of the grins to plan to give you this man.

How do we know? He says so. We are here today. He is doing the joining.

You thought you planned this, didn't you, Jennifer? You both thought this started about six years ago. For you, it did! A young smiling spunky girl came up to me and told me that she had met a boy.

After she graduated from high school, the same young girl informed me - informed me - that she was going to marry this young man in four years after college. Four years of college, not five. Marriage after college, not during. A wedding in June, but Christmasy. And so the planning began for Jennifer and the waiting began for Tim.

Here we are four years later, after college, and we are standing in front of God's altar, with just the right Christmas decorations, paraments, and everything. Even the AC problems were fixed in a mad dash yesterday and the even pastor showed up on time.

Almost a perfect day. I know you wanted a touch of rain today, Jennifer. If we wait just a bit, I'm sure that the Lord will hear that prayer too. But, I don't think we can make Tim wait for it to rain.

Rain or not - today is the Lord's gift. His Day. Just as you planned it, Jennifer.

Actually, just as Jesus planned it for you and Tim. That's the great joy and comfort of this day. It is to His great joy to bless you both and bring you together as husband and wife today.

Dear Saints of God, this is not in some kind of mushy-gushy-everything-is-just-really-beautiful-so-they-just-must-have-been-made-for-each-other love. No, we know that He has done this, that He has brought you both together, because He says so, "What God has joined together let no one put asunder."

This is the comfort of today - the Father loves you this much. He gave up His Son for you, saved you from death and hell - from all that might ever possibly harm you - and not just you but us too!

Then, He did this! Jennifer, He gave you to Tim. Tim, He gave you to Jennifer. Today He joins you both together!

All in the way of gift. All for our good. All because it pleases Him. All so that we would tend to one another just as He has tended to us - in Christ. Which is how you are to be for each other as gift.

Tim, be for Jennifer, as Christ is for the Church, His Body. Serve her, as Christ served the Church, spend all His energy and strength to save her. When she sins, wash her sins away. She is holy, without any spot or blemish. That's what Christ thinks of the church, so husbands are given to think the same of their wives.

Jennifer, the Scriptures use the word "submit" for you. You get your queue from how the Church receives from Christ. You receive. That's what you get to do!

Receive Tim being Christ for you. You let him spend all his energy and strength for you - even giving up His life just as Christ did for His bride, the Church. As your husband does this for you, Jennifer, respect him.

In this way, your marriage will be a little picture of how Christ is for His Bride, the Church.

And if there is ever a time in which Tim doesn't want to receive Jennifer as gift from the Lord or Jennifer doesn't want to receive Tim as gift from the Lord, remember this day. Remember that He has done this. He has joined you together. He has taken you two of you and made you one.

Our Lord doesn't make mistakes. He never goes, "Ooops, I made a blunder when I brought Tim and Jennifer together." He has done this - it as sure as His word.

Therefore, live in that Word, "What God has joined together let no one put asunder."

The Father does gifts. He refuses to treat us as we merit, He sets our sins aside - on His Son. Then, He gives us one another.

Tim, He has done this as a gift for you. We husbands don't deserve the wives our Lord has given us. I don't deserve mine and you don't deserve this beautiful woman.

The Proverbs say, "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Jennifer is to be praised.

I realize she's an aggie, but receive her as gift anyway. Jennifer is all gift for you alone Tim.

Jennifer, Tim is a gift for you alone. A gift is undeserved. It is by grace alone that God has given you Tim.

Tim for Jennifer and Jennifer for Tim until He decides it's time to gift you some more and call one of you home to be with Him forever.

Six years of planning - for your big day, Jennifer. But, it's not your big day, it's Jesus' big day. He couldn't be more joyful to do this for you both!

Tim and Jennifer, it is finally time. He's done it. He's about to do this. All Jesus. All gift. He's joining you together! So, let's not make Tim wait any longer.... In the name of Jesus. Amen.