Morning & Evening Daily Devotional Reading– July 22

by Charles H. Spurgeon, Revised and Edited by William C. Neff

“I am your Husband.”

—Jeremiah 3:14

Jesus Christ is joined to His people by nothing less than marriage. In love He married His Church as a pure virgin, long before she became enslaved to her sins. Full of burning affection He worked for her, like Jacob did for Rachel, until he paid her full purchase price. She has grown to know and love Him, and He awaits the glorious hour when their precious union will be consummated at the marriage-supper of the Lamb.

But the Bridegroom hasn’t yet presented his spouse perfected and complete before the Majesty of heaven, and she hasn’t yet entered into the enjoyment of her dignities as His wife and queen. She is as yet a wanderer in a world of trouble, but even now she is the spouse of Jesus, dear to His heart, precious in His sight, written on His hands, and united with His person. Even now, He demonstrates that He cares for her as a Husband. He makes rich provision for her wants, pays all her debts, allows her to assume His name and share in all His wealth. And He will never act otherwise to her. The word divorce He will never mention, for He hates divorce. Nothing can divide this immortal marriage.

Jesus told us that in Heaven individuals don’t get married, but, in this respect, are like the angels of God; and yet Heaven is the place of marriage for Christ and His Church, and there the saints will celebrate their joyful union with Him. Even the most loving husband here is only a faint picture of Christ’s mystical cleaving unto the Church for which He left His Father in Heaven to be united to her. [M&E]