I think it's time...time to start seeing our churches as the body of Christ..not a building. I think it's time...time to stop judging and pointing and accusing. I think it's time...to start loving people to the cross, rather than condemning them. What good is our walk if no one knows what we're for, only what we're against? I think it's time to alter the atmosphere with the love, compassion, grace and mercy of our Savior. It's TIME!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
How do you see yourself??
Today, I am reading in Zechariah (let me put you in context...the temple is being rebuilt. It is after the exile to Babylon....Joshua is the high priest .The book of Zechariah speaks of the coming King, our Messiah, the Branch)
"Then he showed me (A)Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and [a](B)Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. 2 The LORD said to Satan, “(C)The LORD rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD who has (D)chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a (E)brand plucked from the fire?” 3 Now Joshua was clothed with (F)filthy garments and standing before the angel. 4 He spoke and said to those who were standing before him, saying, “(G)Remove the filthy garments from him.” Again he said to him, “See, I have (H)taken your iniquity away from you and [b]will (I)clothe you with festal robes.” 5 Then I said, “Let them put a clean (J)turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments, while the angel of the LORD was standing by.
Ok - remember this is the LSV version!!!
Imagine the scene - Joshua - the high priest of the temple ( that is being rebuilt) stands before God. satan paces and storms and rants and raves before them both - hurling accusations and contempt - for the sins of the people and the sins of the heart, the sins of the man. Oh, how the truth hurts...he is right! We are not righteous, we are not! We are not worthy - he is right - he accuses and it hurts my heart -0h, because he is right! The accuser of the brethren hits each dart with dead center accuracy, of the state of the heart, exposing our sins. Delighting in our demise.
But - our God - how he loves us! Through the blood of His Son, through our relationship with Christ - we are given NEW garments. Our rags are stripped from us and we are clothed in righteousness and purity. God issues a command - that satan "hush". (LSV)
How do you see yourself? Worthy of the rags that satan would keep you in, believing the lies he whispers to your heart? Trusting in your own power and works to be more righteous? Making poor choices and choosing to hold on to the rags that surround you? ....or...
AS God sees you- worthy of new clothes, a new identity in Christ? Washed clean by His blood? Made strong, "not by might or by power, but by His Spirit"?
How unworthy I feel, as the accuser of the brethren stands by---hushed by Almighty God....watching, seething...as I am clothed in festal robes. So unworthy of the love that is showered about me. So unworthy of the robes that He puts on me. The accusations are fresh from the enemies mouth - they still sting..as He takes off each dirty garment...a tear slips from my eye- I am not worthy of this love!!! So...... wanting...... to be worthy of all that He is - but knowing - that I will never be worthy apart from the saving grace of Jesus.
How do you see yourself today?
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