Wedding Bells not the Performing Arts

S - Revelation 19:6-10 (NLT): "Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a huge crowd, or the roar of mighty ocean waves, or the crash of loud thunder: "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. Let us be glad and rejoice and honor him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She is permitted to wear the finest white linen." (Fine linen represents the good deeds done by the people of God.) And the angel said, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb." And he added, "These are true words that come from God." Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said, "No, don't worship me. For I am a servant of God, just like you and other brothers and sisters who testify of their faith in Jesus. Worship God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.""

O - Invitations to a wedding, especially as the bride, are not tricky or complicated affairs.  It really is more of an agreement than an invite.  The bride is asked by the bridegroom and the basis of this asking is relational, deep and intimate.  Yet, the preparation for this specific wedding is a source of confusion and misrepresentation in the world of Christian religion/culture.  The bride prepares herself NOT by good deeds which "earn" her a place at the wedding but by wearing (intentionally acting) that which has been made/provided for such an occasion (Ephesians 2:8-10).  All of her preparations are NOT hoping to be accepted or presentable but because she is completely accepted, wanted, and wanted forever.  This bride is permitted to wear the finest white linen because this has been provided for her by the bridegroom.  She chooses to wear this beautiful and wonderful garment because of the bridegroom's activity.  It is intentional on both the groom's and the bride's part … but the provision is exclusively the work of the groom.  The bride is choosing to wear the garment because she pleases her groom not trying to find something to wear she hopes will please him.  This is the way good deeds work.  Such doing flows from our being his completely … not a doing which is hoping to be his. 

A - Religion/culture always wants me to perform for all I am worth in the hopes that I might be judged (at least temporarily) as "good enough."  Jesus didn't come to judge but to make all things right by his own impeccable activity.  His actions were not an attempt to "be someone or something" but were the direct result of who he is really is.  We are/I am called to be like him.  He is providing all we need to be his … all our doing is not a performance to gain but rather a response to the fierce personal loyalty and love he lavishes on us because he loves us.  Jesus establishes my worth and says come live and work with me NOT for me.  The Scripture puts it this way, I am my beloved's and he is mine; his banner over me is love.

P - Bridegroom of all, especially those who believe,
Thank you for letting me, calling me, helping me and sustaining so that I may believe.  I gladly choose to wear the garments you provide because you have loved me first, and most and have refused to change your mind. Lord, I am leaning on you and into the future you have already planned out.  Unfurl your banner over us and shoot your arrow to rout the foe.  Enable me to follow and to work with you that I may have the joy you intended … being your unfeigned friend and bride. It is true I need no other but it is also true I want no other.
I do,
Steve