Being your bride

I don't understand. 

I don't understand how you could ever want me as your bride, when I have been so unfaithful. It's like I have arrived to the wedding scraped and tattered, my dress, once sparkling white, is now stained with spots, dirty from sin.  My head hangs low, shamefully, the smile that was once so brilliant and eager for my groom has been replaced with quivering lips. A river silently runs down my tear stained cheeks, giving away my unfaithfulness. But, before I can even attempt to explain, to make excuses, to apologize--you, the radiant, spotless groom--you rush down the aisle and take me into your arms, with not even so much as a question on your lips. You sweetly whisper in my ear, "You will call me 'My Husband' and no longer will you call me 'My Baal.' For I will remove the names of the Baals from your mouth, and they will be remembered by name no more...And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord." You gently wipe the tears from my face and exchange the dirty, torn gown for a brand new, spotless white dress. 

I don't understand. 

This is humbling--a picture of grace that baffles the mind. Is this a deserved response? Absolutely not. Is it right that you should accept me, take me in, after I have turned to so many places outside of you? No. 

Yet you do.

This is grace. It's taking what is unclean and making it pure and spotless once again. It's redeeming love, restorative, selfless. When you look at me, you don't see my past, my mistakes, my failures. You see your beloved, your bride, that has been washed by the blood of Jesus--holy and consecrated--before you. While I was still sinning, you chose me. Knowing I would sin again and again, you chose me. Knowing that I will continue to sin, you choose me. 

Your love, your forgiveness, your grace, is truly incomprehensible to me. But, in faith, I accept it. In faith I say "yes" to being your bride.