Preparing For The Big Day

Well having not blogged for a while I am slightly at a loss for what to blog about. So I think I will focus on the weddings. The meeting of two lovers, a ceremony of dedication, in the true biblical sense two becoming one, only to be broken by God. What a lovely way to describe our relationship with God.

Did you know in a Jewish wedding the couple drink wine to symbolise life, and in particular, the new life they will have together? Also once married they go into a secluded place for a little while to spend time together alone before meeting the guests.

In the first wedding parable there are so many invited guests. And yet of the guests that attended the one singled out was the one without the right clothes.

The King, the father of the bridegroom, had to organise everything. He had the authority, the provision and the right to do so. For every guest he provided a set of clothes to wear over their own for the big day. They weren't commanded to wear it, it was a gift. But if you didn't wear it then you had to take the risk that you offended the father, and could be evicted from the wedding.

How amazing to be invited to a special day unexpectedly, to be provided with beautiful clothes to wear. And how rude not to wear them and when asked to have no reason why not.

God gives us a beautiful gift of salvation, to cover our own inadequacies. But we need to be aware if we don't use it that the father will be offended. We need to be prepared, just like the wise virgins, and have our focus on the Father and what He wants from us. We may fall asleep, everyone does, but we shouldn't be caught without the necessary items that we need: the garments of salvation, and a spiritual knowledge in abundance. A knowledge of the Trinity - Father, Jesus and Spirit - that if stored up, treasured and used wisely brings the oil of gladness, healing, wisdom, sacrifice and anointing. That will light our way to allow us and others to follow the bridegroom. (Although it has to be used, it is no use keeping it in a jar, it has to go into the lamp.)

Jesus says in the end - "Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved."

I pray that my love does not grow cold.
I pray that I put the garments of salvation on.
I pray that I store up my spiritual knowledge and use it wisely.
I pray for endurance.

Laura