Tuesday Truth for Youth: Say Yes

“What did you say about my wife?!” I yelled at who I thought was my best friend.

I jumped up from the couch and got in his face. I was moments away from being not-so-Christian.

He shot back, “calm down! You took that all wrong. That’s not what I meant at all! Your fiancé is great!”

Calmer, I sat down. My friend shot me a look of both amazement and incredulity.

“Why did you just almost turn violent?” I—not missing a beat—quickly snapped back, “that’s my girlfriend you’re talking about. She’s not just my girlfriend, she’s going to be my wife, in like a week! How did you expect me to react when I thought you were saying disrespectful things about her?!

My friend didn’t get it—because he was single.

You see, there’s something unique and quite special about the people we love—especially about the people we choose to love; people like our friends and most importantly, our spouses.

Time to Tie the Knot!

Several days ago, Spring finally began! On March 20, 2025 people all over the US began to fight off pollen and hungry, pie-loving pests. However, another all-important battle began, as well: the fight to schedule and have the perfect wedding! Spring proves more and more popular as a time to tie the knot! And, let me tell you, you don’t have to go far to hear horror stories of normally-logical and calm women losing their minds and turning into “Bridezillas”! Pop culture is replete with all sorts of shows that cash in on the train-wrecks that people make of their lives in their search of that perfect lifetime memory!

Although the idea of a lifetime of marital bliss seem unfathomable these days, and although we seem stuck in a moral free-fall when it comes to the sanctity and seriousness of marriage now, twenty seven years ago this was absolutely no joke to me. And, that should give us a taste about how God feels about his bride. His church is His bride, and He’s been loving his people for a lot longer than 27 years!

The Apostle Paul, writing to the Christians in Ephesus likens the church to a bride and Jesus as the Holy Husband (Ephesians 5:23-32); and not just any bride, but a pure, holy, blameless, and spotless bride—without stain or wrinkle.

A Special Bride

Not only is the church likened to a bride, but God chose the church to be His very own special people—His adopted children (Genesis 12:1-3; Ephesians 2:19; 1 Peter 2:9). The church derives its authority from Christ (Matthew 28:19-20), who is the incarnate Word revealed in the Scriptures (John 1: 1-3, 14). We are really God’s family—on earth (for the time being). As we serve, study, worship, grow, and share, we ultimately look to Jesus as our leader and Redeemer. The Apostle Paul puts it like this: “He [Jesus] is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy” (Colossians 1:17-18, NIV).

The church is not only His bride, but also likened to a building. Again, Paul, struggling to find a way to explain this mystery called “the church,” writes that the church, is built with Jesus Christ Himself as it’s “chief cornerstone” and “in Him the whole building is joined together” (Ephesians 2:20-22). Not only are we His bride and His building, but we are also His body (Ephesians 1:22, 23) of which Christ Himself is the Head.

And very soon, Jesus will Himself descend to this earth with the shout of the Archangel and will take His church—His bride–to heaven where we will be able to spend eternity in His presence (Revelation 21:3)!
I pray that you will be there too.

First Steps

If you’re a Christian, then it’s likely that you already know this information, but maybe you’re not a Jesus follower yet. If not, then don’t freak out. It’s not hard to become a card-carrying member of the God-squad. Check out the “TED TALK” information below in the “Additional Resources” section for more guidance on how to be a Christian, as well as to learn more about how to better understand and optimize your position in God’s church.

More than anything God wants you to know and love Him in your life. So whether or not you’re getting married in the Spring or know someone who is, take the time to recognize the fact that you are special to God. In fact the Bible says that you’re the apple of God’s eye (Zechariah 2:8)! I don’t know about you, but that kind of knowledge could give you a shot in the arm and a healthy sense of pride, or what my father-in-law used to call “gettin’ the “big-head!” To be honest with you, with all the negativity in the world and culture today, it’s not such a bad thing to spend some time considering what God did for us and what we each mean to Him.

Say “Yes” to the Dress!

Today, take some time to thank Him for sending the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, to save you from your sins, and redeem you.
Because of what Jesus has done for us all, we can each choose to live today, and every day, like His bride! Jesus, in trying to explain salvation to His disciples, told them a story of a man who invited people to a wedding feast and gave each of them a specific wedding garment that they needed to wear in order to gain entry. The garment in the story represented God’s salvation, and, unfortunately, someone refused to wear it and was, sadly, refused entry into the wedding party (Matthew 22:1-14).

Today, choose to say “yes” to the dress, and allow Jesus to give you His robe of righteousness. That’s the only way that you’ll make it into God’s eternal wedding party!