“I’ve been pondering how I can have an attitude of celebration and jubilee when I feel tired, overwrought, or stretched to the limits.” Amy Boucher Pye
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.) Then the angel said to me, ‘Write this: “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” (Revelation 19:7–9)
A BLESSED FEAST AWAITS
Blessings abound in the Bible. At the beginning of Genesis, we see how God creates people and then blesses them. At the end of the Bible, we see how John’s apocryphal vision of things to come includes God’s blessing (see Revelation reference above). Although Jesus has ushered in God’s new kingdom on earth (one we can embrace in the here and now), we who love and follow God will also experience the blessings unending that await us in the life to come.
Note how the “blessed” in Revelation 19:9 brings to mind the beatitudes, relating to what Jesus said when he preached the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5). By using “blessed” here, John (the writer of Revelation) exhorts those who are invited to the celebration to persevere through any difficult and testing times.
The Lord spoke of the wedding supper in the Old Testament as well, where the prophet Isaiah wrote, “On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines (Isaiah 25:6). It’s a celebration God doesn’t want his children to miss.
CELEBRATE GOD’S BLESSINGS
I’ve been pondering how I can have an attitude of celebration and jubilee when I feel tired, overwrought, or stretched to the limits. Disciplines I am practicing:
- to pause and be present in the moment—to listen to my husband or children when they speak, e.g.
- to give thanks each day
- to notice the beauty around me, spurring wonder and gratitude
As we consider God’s blessings, we can have a renewed sense of awe for and thanksgiving to our gracious, giving Lord. God the Father sent his Son to die for us. After Jesus’ resurrection, he sent his Spirit to dwell in us. We are no longer alone, for we have the presence of God with us day by day—surely the biggest blessing we’ll ever receive.
Lord God, you invite us to the best feast ever and clothe us with white linen. May we accept your invitation as we embrace your blessings today and look forward with joy to life eternal with you. Amen.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
- When have you been invited to a feast? How did you feel when you received the invitation?
- Why do you think God gives his beloved fine linen to wear?
- What disciplines of embracing blessings can you incorporate into your life?
Amy Boucher Pye
Amy is a writer, speaker, and spiritual director. She’s the author of several books, including 7 Ways to Pray: Time-Tested Practices for Encountering God. She loves writing devotional thoughts, including for the world-renowned Our Daily Bread. She lives with her family in North London. Find her at amyboucherpye.com.
Called to Hope
Biblical hope is a settled, determined, and enduring confidence in who Jesus is and what He has promised. Our hope is in Christ alone. The mystery is Christ in us, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)
Recent Comments