Wherefore, my  brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be MARRIED to another, [even] to him who is raised from the dead (JESUS!), that we should bring forth fruit unto God. Romans 7,4

If I am the bride of Christ, what does that mean in terms of my focus and approach to him and to living?

What do you think is the role of the wife? Do you see the roles of both husband and wife as the same? (This would be the modern view,)

You could start with Proverbs 31, the picture of a virtuous wife. She certainly is hardworking, co-ordinating the household activities and buying and developing property. Her goal seems to be to allow her husband to participate in the running of the town.

There is a difficult passage in First Corinthians 11 where wives are to cover their heads in church and husbands are not. It seems to suggest that the wife is to bring glory to her husband and he to bring glory to God. This is enhanced by her covering her head. Unlike most of the animal kingdom, the human female is definitely adorned with greater beauty, so I suppose she has to cover her head or no one would listen to or relate to the husband.

I think this passage urges me to cover my own “glory” and point all those I meet to my glorious husband, Jesus, the anointed one. For example, God has given me a certain beauty of logic and compassion that could distract people from him and his wisdom in order to focus on me. Yet all my “beauty” is from him and simply gives others a glimpse of his beauty. I long for you who read these words to be filled with admiration and wonder at Jesus’ wisdom and practicality..

As his bride I have learned to rest in his strength. Husbands love to be strong for their wives but don’t want to force their strength on them. I must ask for my groom to protect me and be comforted by it and not intimidated by his strength. Don’t you just love his powerful arms? They are so gentle to me and so strong to protect and provide for me.

Psalms 89;13   Thou hast a mighty arm, strong is thy hand, [and] high is thy right hand.)

I need to let him guide me in the way I should go. “Lord let the life I now live in the flesh be you living out your mission your goals and bringing yourself pleasure in each encounter and opportunity today. Not my will but thine be done!”

I need to rejoice in my role as wife and not look all burned out, doing the routines of marriage with my miserable face screaming, “It is a real burden to be married to this husband.”

I Samuel  1;8 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? [am] not I better to thee than ten sons?

I have been married to Christ these 64 years and he is sweeter as the days go by. I constantly ask him to help me stay on track and return to my first love. The people of the church at Ephesus were good workers, labourers, patient, hated evil, tested others for right and wrong, labored, were patient (yes the bible repeats these) and did not faint BUT, BUT  Revelation 2,4 “Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.”

I want to be a wife pleasing to my heavenly husband? To allow him to wash me, cleanse me and present me to himself a bride without spot or wrinkle or blemish? So daily I let him wash me with the water of the word. Ephesians 5;26-27 I can let his word do its promised work by reading then meditating and asking:

WHAT DOES IT SAY?

HOW SHOULD I THEN LIVE?

HOW DO I MESS THIS UP? (reproof)

HOW DOES THIS CORRECT THE MESS?

HOW DOES THIS HELP ME BE A BETTER WIFE?

2 TIMMOTHY 3 ;16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and  [is] profitable fo doctrine, for reproof, for  correction, for instruction in  righteousness: