New Clothes Today

Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes." Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you." Then I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by. The angel of the LORD gave this charge to Joshua: "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here. " 'Listen, O high priest Joshua and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,' says the LORD Almighty, 'and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.

Zechariah 3:3-9

It seems to me that Zechariah received a vision or dream about this since Zechariah lived in a time way after the times of Joshua. But the message is clear, by God's grace we are free from sin through the blood of Jesus Christ. By God's sacrifice we are given pure, white robes to wear in exchange of the dirty garments we've been wearing. These dirty clothes were our sin and no matter how hard we tried to cleanse ourselves with sacrifices and offerings we would always be dirty because that's who we were. God exchanged them for priestly garments that have no traces of the filth we're so accustomed to wearing. We are definitely new creations in Christ Jesus and we need to act that way. Just like when we get new clothes, we feel a little better and have some dance to our step. The renewing of clean clothes is amazing and changes our attitudes. And this renewing isn't temporary or worn out, it will never get dirty with sin. But we choose to put on our old ragged and dirty garments because it's familiar and fits us so perfectly. But when we put it back on and look at ourselves we know that this isn't who we are anymore and need to put on the new again. Being saved isn't about never having our old garments around, that'll be around until we're in heaven. Being saved is about God delivering that new white robe and it's up to us to take it off the rack and wear it.

Every time I sin I'm reminded of this truth. I choose to put on the old instead of the new because it's easier and it makes me feel better. Wearing Jesus is tough... people think differently of me, my old friends don't find me cool to hang out with anymore, I don't get to satisfy my urges the way I used to... every thing's about someone else instead of me. It sometimes plays with my mind and I know 100% that the devil is taking notes. He knows what my price is and is scheming a way to steal my soul.

I need to clean and purify my mind with the things of God instead of dwelling on the things of men. The joy of seeing and having a hand in nurturing someone's faith or experiencing the salvation of a lost sheep; those are the things to get excited about! Those are the eternal events that ignite our spirits! See lives transformed and renewed from so much detestation and seeing God receive the glory... ah, that's pure joy!!! Seeing Jesus in every situation with His hand covering all the blessed in grace and compassion; now we're talking! Doing our part for the harvest and having eternal rejoicing with our Creator! I'm wearing my new clothes today!!!

Glory glory glory, LORD!! Thank You for this renewing of mind and refreshing of Spirit this morning! And thank You LORD for adopting 232 new children into Your family yesterday! I know yesterday was just a public proclamation but You won again! The devil is forever defeated and it's just the lost to discover this amazing truth. Praise to You my King! Keep this joy that I have burn brightly but constantly... In the most precious & loving name above all names, Jesus. Amen!