And 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? And he was speechless. Mat 22:11‐12
It is a common practice in setting wedding banquets for the hosts to inform their guests
in advance about the dress code and colour schemes at the reception. In doing this, the hosts set out their requirements expecting their guests to fulfill them.
The opening scripture comes from the parable of the wedding, which Jesus used when teaching about the Kingdom of God. The king in the parable is God making a wedding ceremony, the kingdom of God, for His son Jesus.
God as the host invites His guests requiring them to dress up in a particular dress code, the garment of Righteousness, set to the standard of the son. As the host inspects his guests, He finds one without the rightful garment and asks him how he got in; but the guest was speechless.
Consequently, the host asks His servants to tie this guest hand and foot and throw him outside.
From this parable, it is important to note that our invitation to the kingdom of God is on God’s terms. We must be prepared to live in the kingdom of God by fulfilling that which God requires of us.
Many people come to God wanting things to happen on their terms and they end up disappointed when things don’t happen the way they wanted them to be.
They bring crooked, twisted inventions and they pray to God to bless their twisted inventions. This ought not to be so.
Righteousness is the fulfilment of expectations in agreement to the host. God who is our host, has called us to the Kingdom of God to comply with His arrangement. In his Kingdom He has called us priests and kings, he has called us overcomers, more than conquerors, healed in Christ, children of God and many more.
So, as those invited to the kingdom of God, we must be in agreement with the host to call ourselves as he calls us. To live life in agreement with God at all times that we are what God say we are. If you are sick agree with God that by the stripes of Christ you are healed. If you are depressed agree with God that the Joy of the Lord is your strength.
In so doing we are fulfilling the the Central focus of God's righteousness, which is to believe in Jesus Christ as saviour of our life. Once we believe in the son, we fulfill all expectations of God. God has made Jesus to be our righteousness, who has fulfilled all things on our behalf. He is our qualification for dwelling in the kingdom of God, for by Him we have access to all things of the Father, (Rom 5:2; Eph 2:18; Eph 3:12).
When we believe in Christ, we put on Christ (Gal 3:27) who is made for us the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21). Therefore, practice righteousness by calling your self what God calls you, that you may dwell in the kingdom of God and access all provisions through Christ.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for your word. I believe in Jesus Christ your son. I believe in Christ Jesus You have made me the righteousness of God. Fill me with the knowledge of your righteousness that I may commit myself to doing your will in Christ Jesus. I pray I fulfill all your righteous expectations as you lead me in the path of righteousness, in Jesus name. Amen.