A Thought for Monday 3/18/13

“And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thundering saying, ‘Alleluia!  For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!  Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready’.  And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”  Revelation 19:6-8

Jesus tells stories of the Bride (the Church) and the Bridegroom (Himself) and the wedding banquets and who will be invited.  By the words of the Revelation, the Bride will soon be married to the “Lamb” (the Bridegroom, the Messiah) on the Last Day.  The Church, the Bride, will be “arrayed in fine linen … for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints”.  The Church (that is, true disciples) will be arrayed in its own works.  The “fine linen” represents acts of righteousness.

Reading such passages as these reminds us that simply acknowledging Messiah as Savior of the World or even “personal Savior” is not in itself the “works” if acts worthy of repentance are not part of the declaration, the “righteous acts”.  The Church must be the active, living, breathing Bride of the Most High.  We must not simply acknowledge the Gospel of the Lord and live like the devil but should be The Living Example of all the Gospel represents; for “to whom much is given, much more will be required”.  And regardless of the sufferings we may endure in this life, we are promised that our perseverance will be more than adequately rewarded.

We must stay true to the Gospel of the Lord, for the Lord grants Life Eternal through this Good News!  It is for all who embrace the whole life of the Church, the community of the faithful; for it is as it is written: “He has shown you what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).  That is who we are; it is what we are called not merely to read and recite – but to “do” … all in His most glorious and holy Name!

Blessings,

Michael