From Filthy Rags to a Robe of Righteousness

“I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”-Isaiah 61:10.

When I think about Joseph’s coat, it had two distinct differences that normal coats did not have.  Joseph’s coat was very expensive because of its many colors.  In that time, coats were not colorful.  They did not have the technology or the resources to produce colorful clothing.  When they did produce a colorful coat, it was very expensive.  Joseph’s coat also had long sleeves.  In that time, they did not wear long sleeves because they spent most of their time working outside.  Israel intentionally gave Joseph a long sleeve coat because he did not want him to work in the fields like his brothers did.  I believe this coat is similar to my coat of righteousness.  God gave Jesus a robe of righteousness.  On the cross, Jesus took off this robe and swapped it with my filthy rags.  Jesus put on my filthy rags and robed me in his righteousness.  In doing so, my new robe of righteousness has two distinct qualities like Joseph’s coat.  For one, my new robe is very expensive.  Jesus paid a heavy price, so that I would be in good standing with God.  My new robe of righteousness also has long sleeves.  It has long sleeves because Jesus has already done it all.  It is a robe of rest.  He declared, “It is finished!”  The only thing I have to do is believe.  I understand that God has clothed me with the robe of righteousness.  I am right with God.  My good or bad works has nothing to do with this gift of righteousness.  This gift was given to me because of Jesus.  It’s all about the finish work at the cross.  This gift is not about how good I am, but how good was the person who bought it for me.  The Lamb of God did not just take away my sin, but he gave me his righteousness.  I am completely covered by the blood of Jesus.  He is my burnt offering.  He covers me from head to toe with his blood and righteousness.  I am righteous by his blood.  God has clothed me with the robe of righteousness which was paid for by the blood of Jesus.  It’s not my own righteousness, but it’s the righteousness of Jesus Christ. 

I Can See The Light

Last week, the video team and I videotaped my testimony.  While I was preparing for it, my mind kept coming back to the idea of spiritual sight.  So, I thought I would share what God revealed to me.

Seven years ago, I accepted Christ into my life.  This happened during the same time that I went totally blind.  During that time, I realized that I wasn’t just physically blind, but I was spiritually blind too.  With this realization, I began to pray that God would open up my eyes, so that I would see him more clearly.  At that moment, I accepted Christ into my life.  When I did this, I knew that I went from being spiritually blind to having spiritual sight.  Even though I live in darkness, I can see the light of the world which is Jesus Christ.  Even though I am physically blind, I can spiritually see God.  I can clearly see him.  It’s like seeing God with 20/20 vision.  Being physically blind, I can not see God’s visible creation, such as, the sky, the grass, or the trees.  But to me, these things are not as important as what I can spiritually see.  Having spiritual sight gives me the ability to see God’s invisible revelations, such as, his love, his grace, and his holiness.  These revelations are most important.  With God, the light shines out of the darkest place.  I can see the light, and this light shines bright.  God is the light, and with him, there is no darkness. 

Dear Jesus

Dear Jesus,

When you were praying in the Garden, you saw me.  You knew you had to die, so I could be set free.  You carried your heavy cross to Calvary.  It was all because of your great love for me. 

They mocked you, spit in your face, and stripped you of your robe.  They drove the nails into your hands and feet, but you knew that you had to suffer for me.  It was there on that cross where you took my place.  You died for my sins, so I wouldn’t have to pay. 

And that’s what you did, you paid my debt.  I am yours because you won me with your blood.  I have victory because you won my battle.  When you saved me, my sins were buried.    

I have been given the greatest gift, and that gift is you.  This is the best gift one could ever receive.  I am so thankful that I have been given this undeserving gift. 

I was once insignificant but through your suffering, I was made significant.  You saw me as someone who was worth dying for.  I truly believe you are someone who is worth losing everything for.  I live, so that you can live through me.  I greatly owe you for what you have done for me.

God is My Potter, and I am his Clay

“So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel.  But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.  Then the word of the Lord came to me.  He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord.  “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.”-Jeremiah 18:3-6.
             

I was once just a lump of shapeless clay, until I put my life into the potter’s hands.  God is my potter, and I am his clay.  With the great warmth of his hands, God has molded and shaped me into a beautiful vase.  God made me into a beautiful vase so I can hold flowers with the fragrance of his heart.  As much as I try to remain without blemish, life comes along and I crack under the pressure.  However, I am not useless in the sight of God.    Rather than discarding me, God continues to use me for his own unique purpose.  Instead of smoothing out my edges, God keeps the cracks so the glory of his presence can shine for everyone to see.  It doesn’t matter what shape I’m in, I will always remain God’s own unique design.  I am one of a kind.  This makes me priceless in the eyes of my creator.  I thank God each and every day for making me who I am today.  I want to bring glory and honor to the one who made me. 

My Ship has Set Sail

Are the storm clouds gathering?  Is the wind blowing?  Is the thunder rolling?  Is the lightening striking?  Is the rain falling?  If you find yourself in the midst of a storm today, then take hold of God and hang on.  Take heart, God will calm the storm.

In Acts, chapter 27, Paul boarded a ship that was sailing to Rome.  Unfortunately, Paul wasn’t onboard because of his own free will.  Instead, Paul was being held as a prisoner.      

On the way to Rome, Paul’s ship faced a violent storm.  The wind was blowing so hard, that the ship was being tossed to and fro.  The wind caused the ship to venture along a different path.  The raging waves beat against the sides of the ship.  The ship began to fall apart piece by piece.   

The sailors did everything they could to keep the ship together.  They tied cables around the ship to keep it in tacked.  They tossed cargo overboard to lighten the weight of the ship.  Unfortunately, nothing they did helped. 

For the next eleven days, the ship continued to be beaten by the wind and waves.  Little by little, water began to seep into the ship.  Eventually, the ship began to sink. 

At this point, the sailors began to lose all hope in saving the ship.  They also lost hope in saving their own lives as well.  These sailors failed to realize that there was a godly man onboard with them.  This godly man was Paul.  He had complete faith in God.  He knew that God was with them and would help them through the storm. 

Do you feel like those same sailors?  Unlike the sailors, don’t just throw up your hands because you have given up.  Rather, throw up your hands to God.  God is our shelter.  He will protect us from the storm.   

Do you feel like there’s no hope?  Well, there is hope, and this hope comes from God.  When you put your hope in God, he will be like an anchor for your ship.  God will not allow your ship to drift from its path.  Like an anchor, he will keep your ship steady.                

Do you feel your ship being tossed to and fro by the wind?  If you do, God will not let the wind carry you away.  Like the wind blows across the ocean, God will carry you through the storm.  You will soar above it.      

Do you feel the waves beating against your ship?  Well, God can calm the raging seas in your life.  If Jesus can calm a violent storm at sea, then he can calm any storm in your life. 

Do you feel like the storm is bigger than your ship?  Just remember, God is bigger and stronger than any storm.  God’s power is able to lift you above any storm.  God has so much power that he can bring you through a storm unharmed.  He can bring you back to the shore safely. 

Do you feel your ship beginning to sink?  If so, you must stand firm and God will not allow your ship to sink.  If you do this, then God will give you the strength you need to walk across the water.