Thursday, September 20, 2018

Wedding Planner

Daily Reading:  Revelation 19

Scripture Focus: The marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure” — for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. (Revelation 19.7b-18)

Devotional Thought: In a few weeks I will be performing a wedding for some friends.  Preparations are being made.  One of the most important I always stress: 'You need to get your marriage license now!  Bring it to me at least a week before the wedding."  I want to be sure because if they don't do that, all the other preparations will be in vain.  That's the stuff of wedding nightmares!

There is coming a day for another marriage. The angel told John, "The marriage of the Lamb has come."  The date is set.  It is known only to the Father, but Jesus has been preparing ever since the foundation of the world.  In the eternal counsels of God, he looked down the corridors of time and envisioned a perfect and eternal setting where we would be with him. The Kingdom of God comes.  He will be our god, and we will be his people.

The Bride must make herself ready.  First of all by saying yes to his proposal we take on the garments of Christ - his righteousness!  As the song goes, "Not our own righteousness, but Christ within!"  Having been clothed in the righteousness of Christ, then we can start putting on "fine linen, bright and pure."  This is "righteous deeds of the saints."  Notice that the bride of Christ is always singular.  Jesus does not have many brides, but only one.  It is the church.  But, each one of us are a part of the body of the bride.  And each one of us can do something to effect the beauty of the bride.  Those are our righteous deeds.

Are you putting on fine linen, bright and pure?

Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for clothing me in your righteousness.  Help me, O Lord, to enhance the beauty of the church and to glorify your name as I live out this life of righteousness with my deeds.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day:  1 My heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being! 2 Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! 3 I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. 4 For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! 6 That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer me! (Psalms 108:1-6)

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