and posted in Explore
I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage. With my body I honour you; all that I am I give to you; and all that I have I share with you; within the love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
If you decide to get married in the future you may end up saying the lines above as you push a ring on to the finger of your husband or wife. The giving and receiving of a ring acts as a symbol and constant reminder of the tremendous significance of this vow. It is a promise of love, commitment, faithfulness and vulnerability towards the person you want to spend the rest of your life with.
No other human relationship carries the same level of intimacy as marriage does. This is why the Bible predominantly uses wedding language to describe the relationship God desires with humanity. He longs for a two-way relationship with us of loving intimacy and faithfulness where we give all that we are to him.
Entering any such marriage relationship involves us making a choice.
Some people fall in love almost instantaneously and so this choice is easy. Everything just seems to click and they don't care what changes will need to occur in their own lives to make the relationship work well. All they know is this is the person they want to spend the rest of their life with...
For others, falling in love is a journey that takes time. It doesn't mean that they love any less, but they just need longer to get to know the other person and to suss out whether they personally are ready for this kind of commitment.
Falling in love with God is just the same; for some instantaneous, for others a journey. But in all cases, just like marriage, you reach a point in your relationship where you need to make a decision regarding commitment.
God's proposal has been made. Will you say yes to God?