COSTLY GARMENTS

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart,
be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer”
(Psalm 19:14).

In last week’s devotion, we talked about the angel of the LORD coming to Joshua the high priest. Not only did God come, but Satan came too. Let’s continue the story.

Zechariah 3:3: “Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.” Who was clothed in filthy garments? A wicked unbeliever? No, it was the high priest.

Not one of us are exempt from getting our clothes contaminated as we walk in this evil world. Unless we keep short accounts with the Lord, we can often be unaware that we are wearing filthy clothes that grieve the Holy Spirit who dwells within us (I am speaking spiritually, but of course it could apply physically).

However, as we come into the light of God’s presence, He exposes the darkness and the things that displease Him (Psalm 19:14). And He waits to clothe us again with His garments of righteousness. Isaiah 61:10 says: “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” Praise God, He doesn’t give us a skimpy outfit to wear, but a mantle! Through the power of His blood, He completely covers us with a ROBE of righteousness.

Zechariah 3:4 continues: “And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.” The WEB version, plus many others, say that God gave him “rich clothing.” The YLT98 and ISR98 translate it “costly robes.”

Our garments of salvation are costly garments. We receive them through the sacrificial blood of Christ shed for us upon the cross. Let’s embrace these costly garments and wear them each day in our home. Let’s not negate the power of the cross of Christ. How blessed we are to put on fresh, new, clean garments each new day (Ephesians 4:23, 24).

Not only do we receive costly garments, but a head piece. Zechariah 3:5 says: “And I said, Let them set a fair miter upon his head. So they set a fair miter upon his head, and clothed him with the garments.” The word “fair” means “clean and pure.” God wants us to have a pure mind. He wants to take away from us all our unclean, unbelieving, doubting, bitter, and impure thoughts with which Satan tries to fill our minds and exchange them for His mind.

Will you allow the Lord to purify your mind today? Let Him come into your mind with the searchlight of His holiness. As we confess ours sins, He forgives and clothes us with a pure turban of clean, wholesome, and faith-filled thoughts (Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 10:4, 5).

Wear your beautiful garments in your home today, given to you at the great cost of the precious blood of Jesus. 1 Peter 1:18-20 says: “Ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, . . . But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.”

Blessings from Nancy Campbell
www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

I thank you, dear Father, that I don’t have to walk around with dirty thoughts and dirty clothes. You gave up your life and poured out your precious blood to save me from wickedness. You have given me a turban of purity and a mantle of righteousness. I want to wear them every day. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

Through the blood of Jesus and the robe of righteousness He gives to me, I have complete protection from the power of the enemy.