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.
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