When the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? Matthew 22:11, 12.
By the wedding garment in the parable is represented the pure, spotless character which Christ’s true followers will possess. To the church it is given “that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white,” “not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.” Revelation 19:8; Ephesians 5:27. The fine linen, says the Scripture, “is the righteousness of saints.” Revelation 19:8. It is the righteousness of Christ, His own unblemished character, that through faith is imparted to all who receive Him as their personal Saviour.
The white robe of innocence was worn by our first parents when they were placed by God in holy Eden. . . . But when sin entered, they severed their connection with God, and the light that had encircled them departed. . . . Nothing can man devise to supply the place of his lost robe of innocence. . . . Only the covering which Christ Himself has provided can make us meet to appear in God’s presence. This covering, the robe of His own righteousness, Christ will put upon every repenting, believing soul. . . . This robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has in it not one thread of human devising. Christ in His humanity wrought out a perfect character, and this character He offers to impart to us. “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6. Everything that we of ourselves can do is defiled by sin. But the Son of God “was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.” 1 John 3:5. . . .
By His perfect obedience He has made it possible for every human being to obey God’s commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah.
Maranatha p. 78
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—–Please pray for the following evangelism events that are taking place in the near future: Diane — Haiti (Aug 2 – 23) speaker is Pastor Herman Davis. Pray for protection, baptism of Holy Spirit and a great harvest. —Levenworth, KS (Aug 8 – 23) —Grand Island, NE (Aug 9 – 16) Jorge Zelaya speaker —Harare, ZA (Aug 10 – 16) Campmeeting —Oshkosh Pathfinder Camporee (Aug 11 – 17) Please pray for the planning of this event as well as for direction of the Holy Spirit to guide and stir the hearts of our leaders and every youth attending. Also for the Presence of the Lord to be manifested during this event. —Portland, OR (Aug 13 – 16) Dr. Ron Clouzet and Dr. Michael Hasel will present a series on archaeology and the Bible —Dodge City, KS (Aug 22 – Sep 2) Israel in Prophecy —Southern California (Aug 31) Campmeeting Vespers with Dr David Levy
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Dear Friends,
On my way home from work some years ago, I stopped at a store at which I rarely shopped and which is now out of business. They were having a triple coupon sale on all coupons under fifty cents in value and I couldn’t resist. I had quite a few coupons within that category, so I thought of all the money I would save.
After paying for the few items I had bought, the girl who bagged my groceries asked if I would like to have her take them out to the car for me. Being tired from working all day, I said “Yes.” Then she looked at me and said in a pitying tone, “Would you like to lean on the grocery cart while we go out to your car?” Shock and disbelief must have been written all over my face. I told her, “I may be getting older, but I’m not feeble yet!”
Then I went over to my regular store to buy the rest of my groceries. At the checkout, the cashier asked if I would like someone to take out my purchases. I said, “As long as they don’t call me feeble!” I explained. We, along with the ladies in line behind me, had a good laugh over it.
When the bag boy came, the laughing clerk told him not to call me old and feeble. Now it was his turn to look surprised. This brought another round of laughter. On the way out to the car, I explained what had happened across the street. He, too, thought that it was very funny.
As I was thinking about that incident while driving home, I remembered my misconceptions when I was about the same age as that girl who thought that I was so old that I needed the cart to lean on. To my young mind, anyone over forty was ancient. Unfortunately I hadn’t kept my thoughts to myself and unwittingly offended my mother and my in-laws (and who knows who else).
How easy it is to judge someone else. How many times we think the worst of the people around us and tend to hold them to a higher standard than we, ourselves, are unwilling to reach. Jesus tells us, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Matt 7:1-5 Paul agrees, “thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.” Rom 2:1 How true that was in my case!
There are some, however, who use these verses beyond their intent. Whenever person has a valid concern regarding someone’s words or actions, they call that person “judgmental” and sometimes even quote this Scripture to them. Are we never to judge someone’s actions? The Great Judge Himself clears up this question. “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” John 7:24 His guide for knowing a false from a true prophet also guides us in judging righteously. “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matt 7:16-20
How careful we must be when approaching the one at fault, for the way we do so is vital to their spiritual recovery. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Gal 6:1
May God give us wisdom in our dealing with others. May our “speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt.” Col 4:6 May we receive the spiritual eyesalve we need to recognize our own defects and come humbly to the cross for the forgiveness we so much need. Only then are we able to bring others into restoration.
Rose