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Isaiah 61:10 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 righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (NIV)
Many years ago, when I attended the 428 Gospel Club on Wednesday nights in Glasgow, Scotland, several regular participants used to sing their own personal testimony songs. Ian, who ended up being the best man at my wedding, would sing “Supper Time.” Gwen would sing “I know who holds Tomorrow.” Dawn beautifully sang “Burdens are Lifted at Calvary.” I usually sang “Try a Little Kindness.”
There was also a guy called Stewart who sang a song called “Robe of Righteousness,” which was based on today’s scripture. I can’t remember all of the words, but the last line of the refrain went something like:
“When God looks at me He sees not what I used to be, but He sees Jesus.”
The song was about Christ covering each of us with His robe of righteousness and sacrificial blood, so that we could stand in God’s holy presence. Instead of being cast away forever as recalcitrant sinners, we are accepted as redeemed servants through Jesus. Whatever sins we’ve committed in the past, stay there. Whatever regrets we have or mistakes we have made do not define us forever. Christ sanctifies us, or makes us holy again in God’s sight, through His own sacrifice. We are covered and cleansed by His blood. We are made brothers and sisters to Him by His blood. We are welcomed as heirs to God’s Kingdom with His blood over us and in us.
This is what it means to be a Christian. We are accepted by God when we admit our sins and seek Christ as our Savior. His robe of righteousness covers our past and completely shields us from God’s wrath so that, in the words of the song, “When God looks at me He sees not what I used to be, but He sees Jesus.”
Perhaps you are worried about a past mistake. Maybe you still feel shame over some personal sin. Or guilt and anxiety may still be wounding your soul. Christ can cancel those wounds and wrongs. He can make all things new and let you begin again. All you have to do is sincerely ask Him for help.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, sometimes the guilt of the past wearies our souls and overwhelms our spirits. Sometimes we feel that we have let You down considerably. Touch our hearts with Your mercy and grace. Redeem us from the past and relieve us from worries. Cover us with Your robe of righteousness and bring us before God as Your servants. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
4 comments:
While I know it has been a couple of months since your posting, I am very appreciative of it. It helped to clearly understand what God sees in me when He is looking at me. It is a confirmation that Jesus does have His home in me.
Thanks, Geary
Hello, I read your posting on the Robe of Righteousness and was very impressed. I hope you don't mind that I printed it and will be using in my Sabbath School program in the morning. You expressed it so well and it was very well done. Thank you so much for writing just what I needed to hear and share with my church family! I will be following your blog regularly.
Thank you for both your comments. Please feel free to use the posts that I write any time for your church school or study groups. God bless you.
You mentioned John Moore's lovely hymn, "Burdens Are Lifted at Calvary" in passing. Don't know if you realize, but Mr. Moore is Scottish, and the incident that sparked the writing of the hymn took place there. If you visit my blog for today, at Wordwise Hymns, you can learn more.
For many years, now, John Moore has lived in Canada, serving as pastor of a church near where I was born. Today, as I write, is his 84th birthday.
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