By Mary Carothers

In Old Testament times, when a lamb was chosen to be the sacrifice, it was “set apart” from others in the flock. This was in order to examine it for a period of time to be sure that it was “without spot or blemish.”

Jesus, of course, was the Sacrificial Lamb of God. He, and He alone, was able to live in such purity of heart as to be sinless. He was without spot or blemish.

In Ephesians 5:27, Paul speaks of the church, the bride, as being presented to Christ without spot or blemish, not even a single wrinkle! Now that’s quite an accomplishment! Certainly, nothing that you or I can achieve. How then, can God perform this miracle in us?

First of all, Jesus’ righteousness is applied to us…credited to us. And that cleans up an awful lot of “blemishes.” Then, we are “set apart” by God. He begins to work His will in us. Could it be that many of the trials we go through are necessary to purify us? To burn out the dross and leave the gold? To iron out the wrinkles, so to speak.

If we can see our trials in this perspective, what a different attitude we can have toward our problems! How much easier it will be to praise the Lord for making us spotless and pure in His eyes. He has chosen us and set us apart to be His very own children. As Jesus is the bridegroom, we are to be the Bride.

God has chosen us. He has set us apart…He’s getting us ready. Even now He’s in the process of cleaning and purifying us through fiery trials.

I want to be ready when the bridegroom comes. How about you? (Reprint from January 1990)