The Bride
by: Anne Coleman Hufham
May 26, 2026
“What does it mean to be the Bride?” Not just a bride but the Bride. His Bride. It is so easy to get caught in our Christian routines and rhythms, and we find we are actually enjoying God in these activities, but somewhere along the way we forget something so crucial. Simply stated by Solomon, “My beloved is mine and I am His”
Recently, the Lord has put this one question on my heart and I can't shake it. “What does it mean to be the Bride?” Not just a bride but the Bride. His Bride. It is so easy to get caught in our Christian routines and rhythms, and we find we are actually enjoying God in these activities, but somewhere along the way we forget something so crucial. Simply stated by Solomon, “My beloved is mine and I am His” (Song of Songs 2:16).
I absolutely love Song of Songs because it passionately portrays the kind of love Jesus, as our Bridegroom, feels toward us. The kind of love that pursues, climbs every mountain, leaps over the hills, pushes past every barrier to be with the one He loves. Dear reader, that is how Jesus feels towards you.
Jeremiah 2:1-2, NLT says: “The Lord gave me another message. He said, ‘Go and shout this message to Jerusalem.’ This is what the Lord says: “I remember how eager you were to please me as a young bride long ago, how you loved me and followed me even through the barren wilderness”
As His bride, how do you feel towards Him? There are a few things that have come to my mind:
The bride is clothed in white and radiates with the glow of love. The bride is willing to give up everything - her name and her reputation, for His. She adores her groom and unashamedly talks about Him. No one wonders who the bride belongs to, everyone knows who her groom is. The bride cannot wait to share her day with her groom. The bride is secure in the love of her groom. His love casts out all her fear, and she is free to love others wholeheartedly. The bride is unwilling to compromise and risk losing the intimacy she has with her Husband. His heart is her treasure and she protects His secrets, never exploits them. She shares the secrets of her heart with Him. She trusts her groom. She keeps herself pure. She is faithful. She loves being with Him more than she loves what He can do for her. She loves His presence more than anything else. One glance from Him and she is undone. She loves Him when she doesn’t get the miracle. She loves the little nudges. The bride loves worship nights but can’t wait to get home to find Him in the secret place. Simply being in His presence is enough.
Jesus reminds us in Revelation 2:3-5, ESV/ “I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent”
One of the most beautiful parts of a wedding ceremony is the moment when the Groom first locks eyes with his Bride. The song starts playing, the crowd stands, the anticipation is at its peak, and all eyes are waiting for the first appearance of the bride. As soon as she comes, everyone quickly looks to see the reaction of the groom.
I will never forget this moment at our wedding. My husband buckled over in tears. I remember physically trembling with joy. I could not believe he was the one I got to spend the rest of my life with. Easily forsaking all other loves to be his. It is such a tangible picture of the heart of our Bridegroom Jesus and how much He loves us. As the Bride, are you willing to forsake all other loves to be His? In a world where everything is constantly grabbing for our attention, will you have eyes for only One? He gave His life so that you could be clothed in white, one with Him forever.
I want to finish with this - you do not get married one day only to stop pursuing one another. The wedding is only the beginning of a lifelong journey of sacrifice, pursuit, romance, learning to give and receive love, the list goes on and on! It would be crazy to think that after the ceremony you no longer had to put in any effort. Yes, you belong to one another and are in covenant now, but you must continue to guard your hearts, to invest in each other daily, to never stop pursuing each other no matter the cost. (You will find that the more selfish you are, the harder it will be.)
It is the same with Jesus. In order for Him to remain our First Love, we must always intentionally put Him first, never settling for lesser loves. You cannot turn on autopilot. He so desires to be pursued and loved in the same way He never stops pursuing us. I want to encourage you today to sit with Him. Ask Him how you could love Him today. It may be something simple like “sing to Me!” Or He may ask you to give up something you’ve been needing to give up for the sake of receiving more of His love in your life. Enjoy His presence!
Prayer
Jesus, be my First Love. I repent for every time I have put other things before you. I am so sorry. There is no greater Love than You. You are Life and Love itself and Your Love is better than life! I pray that loving you would be at the forefront of my mind all day long. I pray that every day I will love You more than the day before. You are worthy of all my love and all my adoration. Please help me to run from every distraction that grabs at my attention and to run to You instead. I love You!
Worship: Jesus, Lover of my Soul & Spontaneous
Further Study
Revelation Chapter 2, Song of Songs
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Recently, the Lord has put this one question on my heart and I can't shake it. “What does it mean to be the Bride?” Not just a bride but the Bride. His Bride. It is so easy to get caught in our Christian routines and rhythms, and we find we are actually enjoying God in these activities, but somewhere along the way we forget something so crucial. Simply stated by Solomon, “My beloved is mine and I am His” (Song of Songs 2:16).