Faith

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A White Robe

As I threw my favorite white robe into the washing machine, I paused momentarily and thought to myself...this isn't even dirty to the eye, why am I even washing it? I've just programmed myself to do it as the color white doesn't stay "pure" if it isn't maintained and cleaned regularly. I don’t always put the robe on every morning, but it's always hanging - waiting for me when I do! But I have noticed that each time I do wear it depending upon what I do, it leaves me prone to get " something" on it, whether I see it with my eyes or not. Interestingly enough, I had been reading in the book of Revelation and white robes were mentioned, so the word was still fresh in my mind. Revelation 7:9, which I noticed that I had at some point underlined in my Bible says - After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. The author of Revelation, John, was asked a question in verse 13 - "These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?" John responds in verse 14 - "My lord, you know." And he said to John, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb... "

Perhaps you've read and looked into the book of Revelation as well. If you haven’t I would encourage you to. The strange symbolic images and warnings are mind boggling, but yet Jesus reigns victorious in the end! I know I continually need to soak myself in the extravagant grace of God sending His son Jesus for us, for when I practice this meditation I’m more deeply moved to live as Christ did. John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He sent His one and only son, Jesus, to die so that all who believe will have eternal life. Without personally understanding the price that Jesus paid for each of us, we may miss the full expression of His love. The lamb, without sin, took on all our sin - have you ever thought about what your sin alone might look like on Jesus? Past, present, and future? If he stood before you today in His white robe, what would your own sin look like on him? Don't consider the rest of the worlds, this is between you and the Lord. I’m not saying we should fixate on our sin, but understand that we all needed a savior and will continue needing Him on our faith journey to walk as He did. As this truth washed over me and freshened me while I looked at my own white robe in the bottom of the wash basin, I was flooded with sheer gratitude- don't you love it when your soul is continually overwhelmed with the reminder of God's ultimate expression of love for us all?! We don’t earn or deserve it, but He gives it! Jesus is the only way to God – He makes it possible to wash our robes and make them white in His blood. Remind us Lord, we don't conjure up this "right standing" with you, we simply respond to it.

Today, where are you in your journey? How’s your faith? What is God asking of you today? Does He seem distant? Ask Him to examine your heart. It’s good to reflect and we need heart checks often, at least I know I do. As my faith in Him continues to grow He continues to open my eyes wider and I recognize and see more clearly that I can’t love like He does if I don’t do what He’s prompting me to do. Maintaining this relationship requires my participation and the continual daily surrender of myself to His spirit. Oh friends, this is the where our will and choices come into play - right now, in the daily grind of life. Sometimes we may get it all right, and at other times we may slip and fail- never reaching full perfection until He returns. But yet, the cross continues to get larger for me as I discover and apply more depths of truth. Does the cross continue to become larger for you too? I'm often reminded of a verse in Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I Iive by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. To help myself yield when the Spirit convicts me of being out of line, I’m prompted to take 5 action words that start with “R” to help maintain this relationship with Him: Recognize, respond, repent, receive, and repeat as necessary. Today, wherever you are, join me in praise by saying - Thank you Lord Jesus! In you and through you we can overcome. Help us live today the lives you died to give us so that others may notice that "we are different" and they too can choose you and wash their robes and make them white in your blood.

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