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 preparations and one 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 when God looked down the corridors of time and saw 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 ... the 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: Psalm 109.26-31

26 Help me, O Lord my God! Save me according to your steadfast love! 27 Let them know that this is your hand; you, O Lord, have done it! 28 Let them curse, but you will bless! They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad! 29 May my accusers be clothed with dishonor; may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak!

30 With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord; I will praise him in the midst of the throng. 31 For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from those who condemn his soul to death.