#142 MADE FOR THE SON 9-16-26
The Father has appointed all things for His Son. The Son is the heir of all things, and the Father has purposed that His people should share in that inheritance with Him. We are not merely saved from something; we are being brought into something—the fellowship, joy, glory, and inheritance of Jesus Christ. “He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4), and we have “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven” (1 Peter 1:4).
And then the Bible gives us another beautiful picture. Christ has a bride.
That bride is the church. “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” (Ephesians 5:25). He did not merely tolerate His bride. He loved her. He gave Himself for her. He desired to “sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word” and ultimately “present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing” (Ephesians 5:26–27).
Think about that.
The bride of Christ was taken from the human race. We are creatures of the dust, sons and daughters of Adam, formed by the hand of God in the beginning (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:7). Yet God has purposed that people who were once separated from Him could become the beloved of His Son. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26).
But a bride must be made suitable for the bridegroom.
God is not merely interested in getting us out of hell. He is making us into the kind of people who belong with His Son. “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29). The goal is likeness to Christ. “But we all are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
This is why salvation is more than forgiveness. Forgiveness is glorious, but God is doing something deeper in us. He is forming Christ in us (Galatians 4:19). He is teaching us to think like Christ, love like Christ, forgive like Christ, serve like Christ, suffer with Christ, and ultimately share in His glory (Philippians 2:5; Romans 8:17).
The world may ask, “What are you becoming?”
The gospel answers, I am becoming like Jesus.
The church is being prepared for the Son. Peter says that we are being built together as “living stones” into a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5). Paul says that we are “His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10). God is not finished with us. “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).
It is wonderful and it is personal.
Jesus knows His bride. He knows every weakness, every failure, every wound, every struggle. Yet He does not abandon her. He gave Himself for her. “Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end” (John 13:1).
The bride is not making herself beautiful by human achievement. She is being made beautiful by the love and work of the Bridegroom. “You are complete in Him” (Colossians 2:10). His grace forgives us, His word cleanses us, His Spirit transforms us, and His love holds us.
And one day the preparation will be finished.
John saw the great picture: “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready” (Revelation 19:7). Then comes the magnificent declaration that she was “arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright” (Revelation 19:8).
What a destiny!
We were created from the dust, but we are being prepared for glory. We were sinners, but Christ loved us. We were far away, but He brought us near. We were strangers, but we have been made members of His household (Ephesians 2:13, 19). We were without hope, but now we have “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
You were made by God.
You were loved by Christ.
You were redeemed by His blood.
You are being formed into His likeness.
And you are being prepared for the Son.
So let us live like the bride of Christ. Let us keep our hearts faithful, our garments clean, our lamps burning, and our eyes fixed upon the Bridegroom. “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). The One who loved us enough to die for us is the One for whom we are being prepared.
And when everything God has purposed is complete, we will understand that every trial, every correction, every lesson of grace, every moment of surrender, and every step of faith was part of the Father’s great purpose—to prepare a people suitable for His Son.
We were made for Him. We were redeemed for Him. And we are being prepared for Him.
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Father, thank You for loving us and for giving Your Son for us. Make us more like Jesus every day. Cleanse our hearts, strengthen our faith, and teach us to live as the faithful bride of Christ. May our lives bring joy and honor to the One who loved us and gave Himself for us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
BDD
