DAILY LIFT UP – Wednesday, 19th November 2025
Theme: THE CHURCH
Lesson: THE ENGAGED OF CHRIST
Scripture Reference: 2Cor.11:2 KJV
Since Christ is not a man full of lies, we will beat our chest that our engagement with Him will result to our wedding at last as we continue to express our dependence on Him – come rain; come shine. In Old Testament times, husbands were permitted to divorce their wives (Deut.24:1-4) although there were also dissenting voices viewed from the analogous transaction between God and Israel which was a reflection of the bond in marriage. (cf. Mal.2:14ff) However, in the New Testament times, what is similar which that has illustrated is the covenant relationship between Christ and His Church. (Eph.5:22,23) If after Jesus’ engagement of us who have believed in His atoning message, we thereafter desert Him by going back to immoral living, like He likens us to salt, (Matt.5:13), we are not good again for the wedding. It is worth mention here that, since marriage was created by God, it cannot be dissolved by human action except God Himself.
When Jesus came to the earth, He met an arrangement where, to marry, two families – the bride’s and the bridegroom’s – negotiate a betrothal between their children on a more serious and solemn manner than the courtship or dating of today in some traditions. This is the sense in our lead text. It was also allowed for younger children (minors) who never entered adult life to date or espouse than we see modern western countries we emulate today would allow. The marriage, sooner or later, will be finalized when the prospective bridegroom would come to take the bride from her parents to his home having seen to be mature enough for it.
The betrothal never included sexual relationship. Joseph was therefore not comfortable when he saw Mary with Jesus in her womb with whom he never mate. (Matt.1:18,19)
Parents of the prospective bridegroom played a pivotal role in the determination of when their child will go to bring the bride back home – Consider Abraham and Isaac (Gen.24:1-8). This was the extant arrangement when Christ said that the time of His second advent will be determined by the Father to take us (His engaged) home with Him. (See Matt.24:36; Mark 13:32)
In conclusion, we who call on Jesus as Lord and Saviour must be aware that our Lord will appear again no longer with flesh and blood but flesh and bone , and never to die again but to ultimately save those who are waiting for Him – Heb.9:28b). The fact that His body that served both as a house and a vehicle for His sojourn here when He first came was taken to heaven is enough to convince us that He will come again with that same body.
EVALUATION
1. The mystery we see in ‘Eph.5’ is that humans can have such a closeness with God in such a way a husband and wife have. (True or False) Why?
2. As husbands and wives replenish the earth with human beings, that is how Christ and His Church replenish heaven with spirit beings. (True or False) How?
3. The physical family God has used as preparatory ground for graduation of humans into the society for the society’s good. Even so, He has used the spiritual family (Church) for graduation of Christians into heaven. (True or False) How?
Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, we come before You today as the engaged of Christ, united in our love for Him. We thank You for the reminder that our engagement with Christ is a covenant relationship, a bond that cannot be broken.
Lord, help us to remain faithful to our commitment, to live a life of dependence on You, and to await the glorious day when Christ will return to take us home.
May we be mindful of the mystery of ‘Ephesians 5’, where Christ and the Church are united as one, and may we strive to live out this unity in our daily lives.
We pray that we will be found worthy to be part of the wedding feast of the Lamb, and that we will be clothed in the righteousness of Christ, our Bridegroom.
May the God of hope and love fill us with joy and peace, and may we be strengthened in our faith, as we await the return of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Benediction:
May the Lord bless you and keep you, may He make His face shine upon you, and may He give you peace. May you be strengthened in your faith, and may you be a shining testimony of Christ’s love to the world. Amen.
Answers to Evaluation Questions:
1. True. ‘Ephesians 5’ reveals the mystery of the unity between Christ and the Church, illustrating the closeness and intimacy that humans can have with God, similar to the relationship between a husband and wife.
2. True. Christ is gathering His Church to be with Him in heaven, to share in His glory and joy.
3. True. The physical family is a preparatory ground for humans to learn and grow, and the spiritual family (Church) is a means by which Christians are prepared for graduation into heaven, to live in the presence of God.
