Proper Clothes
For several months prior to my daughter’s wedding, a prime topic of conversation focused on clothing—not only for the bridal party, but also for the immediate family, extended family, and guests. People wanted to know details about the attire of those participating and the colors of the wedding celebration.
Why? So, they could dress appropriately. And, while each person put on unique attire, they all sought to be respectful of the happy couple’s wishes. How one dresses for a wedding conveys an attitude of support and comradery, of entering into the lives of the bridal couple. Dressing appropriately is a symbol of community and shared lives.
Despite the RSVPs and interactions with invited guests, the bridal couple may have an unspoken worry: “What if no one shows up?” Oh, how awful it would be for two people who have planned long and hard for their special day, who have sent invitations well in advance and received encouraging responses, to be left standing alone when the moment comes!
Like the parable in Matthew 22:1-14, God has prepared a wedding feast in honor of His Son, and He has sent out the invitations so that everyone knows they are invited (Romans 1:20). The invitations went out first to the Jews, the ones chosen to share God’s love with the world, but they rejected Him. The invitations have now been extended to everyone to participate, not only in that grand wedding feast, but also in the opportunity to share the message of God’s love with the world.
On Good Friday, as we commemorate the Crucifixion of our Savior, let us once again consider God’s invitation. Do you fall into the category of knowing you are invited yet failing to accept? Perhaps you have grown up in a Christian home and have not yet made the faith of your parents your own. Perhaps you have fallen away from following Him. Perhaps you feel as if you are not good enough to have a seat at the banquet table.
Whatever the case, let us take this day to remember that God has graciously given us His invitation sent well in advance of the wedding date. May we all accept His invitation and share His gospel message with the world until the wedding date arrives. Let us dive deeper into His love for us so that He can transform our hearts, shape us into Christlikeness, and clothe us with attire that is fitting for the wedding feast to end all wedding feasts.
As we each take our seat, let us always remember that God has gifted us in unique ways and has clothed us with the righteousness of Christ. We do not have to earn or fight for our seat at His table; instead, we can bless one another as we grow together. None of us are good enough; it is the blood of the Lamb of God, whom we celebrate, that covers us and allows us to be present at His table.
