Are You Ready for the Wedding Feast?

"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." — Revelation 19:7

As believers, we often hear the phrase “the Bride of Christ,” a beautiful metaphor describing the Church’s relationship with Jesus. But if we pause and reflect, a challenging question arises: Are we, as the Bride of Christ, properly dressed for the wedding feast?

What Does It Mean to Be Dressed for the Wedding?

In Revelation 19:8, we read:

"Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)"

This scripture points to more than a physical garment. The "fine linen" symbolizes the righteousness of the saints—our readiness for Christ’s return. Being “dressed” for the wedding means living a life of repentance, holiness, obedience, and love, clothed in the righteousness that comes from faith in Jesus.

But are we preparing ourselves daily for this great day, or have we become distracted, complacent, or too entangled in the cares of this world? In my own self-reflections I've allowed myself to be distracted, not always doing what I know is right, not always being as loving towards others as I should...and the list goes on.

Signs the Bride May Not Be Ready

1. Distracted by the World: Like the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25, some of us may be running low on oil, caught up in the busyness of life and neglecting our spiritual preparation. Are we prioritizing time with God, or has our focus shifted to temporary things?

   
   

2. Clothed in Filthy Rags: Isaiah 64:6 reminds us that our own righteousness is like filthy rags. If we rely on self-righteousness or external appearances rather than true transformation through Christ, we risk standing unprepared when the bridegroom arrives.

   
   

3. Lukewarm Faith: Revelation 3:16 warns against being lukewarm in our faith. The Bride of Christ should be fervent, passionate, and committed to her relationship with the bridegroom, not indifferent or half-hearted.

   
   

How Can We Prepare Ourselves as the Bride of Christ?

1. Pursue Holiness

   • Romans 12:1-2 calls us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This means daily surrender, turning away from sin, and allowing the Holy Spirit to refine us.

2. Stay in the Word and Prayer

   • Just as a bride spends time preparing for her wedding, we must invest time in our relationship with Jesus. Prayer and studying scripture are vital for drawing closer to Him.

3. Clothe Ourselves in Christ

   • Galatians 3:27 reminds us: “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” This means embracing His love, forgiveness, and character in every area of our lives.

4. Love Others Well

   • The Bride of Christ should reflect His love to the world. Our “righteous acts” include showing kindness, forgiveness, and compassion to others, serving as His hands and feet on Earth.

     
     

The Invitation is Still Open

The beautiful thing about this invitation is that it’s open to everyone. Matthew 22:2-14 reminds us of the parable of the wedding feast, where the king invited guests to celebrate his son’s wedding. Some ignored the call, while others came but weren’t properly dressed. We must take this parable to heart: the invitation is free, but it requires us to respond with readiness, clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

As the Bride of Christ, let’s not wait until the last moment to prepare; this is so crucial. Let’s examine our hearts today. Are we fully surrendered to Him? Are we living as though the wedding feast is near? Jesus longs for His bride to be ready, radiant, and clothed in fine linen. Let us not be caught unprepared but instead live each day as a step closer to the greatest celebration of all—eternity with our Bridegroom.

Below is a sample prayer you can pray if youare finding it difficult to find the words to say. I hope this helps.

Lord, thank You for inviting us to be Your bride. Forgive us for the times we’ve been distracted or complacent. Forgive us for our murmuring and complaining out of our own frustration with the hardships we endure daily.

Let us not be among those that say, “Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation,” but help us to be watchful while we continue to adjust our garments so as to be clothed in Your righteousness and prepare our hearts for Your return.

Help us walk in faith, for Your Word says that it is impossible to please You without faith.

May we live each day as a reflection of Your love and grace—and mirror that same love and grace to those around us.

In the name that is above all names, the Lord Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

xo,

Ramona Louise