My family is getting Direct TV today. The saleslady insistently told my mom that the cable guys would be here today between noon and four. Last night, I figured I'd be up at ten and take a leisurely shower before the cablemen came.
The cable guys showed up at ten this morning. Bleary-eyed, I staggered up from the living room couch where I'd crashed last night to the upstairs. I started up my computer and said a quick 'thank you, Jesus' when I realized the internet was working.
I stayed at my computer for two hours because I wasn't dressed. I was still in last night's dirty, smelly PJs. As I sat here, musing about my PJs, I started thinking about the other times I've been over (or under) dressed for an occasion. I couldn't help but think how often I'm like that spiritually...
I stagger into God's presence in my sin-soaked PJs. I know I'm under dressed for the occasion. I don't even to deserve to be in His presence I'm so under dressed. Yet I keep tugging at my shirt, hoping against hope that God won't notice.
But God always notices. He always sees me where I am in what I'm wearing. The embarrassment and shame almost make me want to hide yet each time, God beckons me close. When I'm in front of Him, He drapes a robe around me. It's soft and beautiful......and holy.
And I find myself on my knees, knowing I am so unworthy of such grace yet so thankful for it. His robe of righteousness covers my sins, my failures, my shame and my rejection. It covers my faults and weaknesses.
Despite being given a robe of righteousness, too many Christians continue to walk around under dressed. It's not that the robe is insufficient. It's that they refuse to wear it. They refuse to accept what Jesus Christ has done for them on the Cross. In essence, they are living in denial.
There are two things that will keep you from wearing the robe of righteousness: shame and pride. Shame says, "You're not good enough. You're under dressed for the occasion." While pride insists, "You don't need that robe. Look at the fine garments you have made!"
Whether you are guilty of pride or shame, come before God. Come as you are and be clothed in righteousness. Accept that He has covered you with His Holiness. You don't have to live in the shame of the past or pride over your own works. I love how the prophet Isaiah phrased it:
"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. " - Isaiah 61:10 (NKJV)
Photo Credit: Andrea Kratzenberg
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5 comments:
Yep, I often feel underdressed in the presence of the Lord.
Great way to express the stark difference between our rags and his holiness!
As i sit here reading your blog while my son is playing a song with the lyrics beckoning "come away with me," I am overwhelmed with the grace of God.
What a beautiful post. What a wonderful Savior!
Thank you for stopping by, Jan. I feel so underdressed in His presence as well but thank God, He never turns me away. He never looks at me with disgust or loses with me. His grace is so overwhelming. :)
Deb
Stephanie, I can relate. So often, I hear him saying those very words to me. I'll never truly understand His grace or why He's given it to us but I'll forever be awed and humbled by it.
Deb
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