Read Zechariah 3: 1-10 Clean Garments

I look over the last day or so, and I stand before the Lord, feeling dirty.  How can I be a leader if I myself am unclean?  I am reminded again how undeserving I am of a place in His Kingdom.  I remembered Joshua, the high priest, when the Lord took off his clothes that were filthy.  The Holy Spirit reminded me it was Zechariah 3 so I hurried to turn to that passage again; and see myself in Joshua’s place.

The accuser, Satan, stands beside the Lord, accusing me as I stand before Him.  The angel of the Lord (possibly Jesus?) says, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan!”  You, my Saviour, rebuked him Yourself.  “Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”  Yes, I am.  Snatched from the fire of my exile; my discipline, my rebellion and the oppression that was the result.  Here I stand, before the Lord; retrieved, redeemed, brought back.   “But Lord, I still wear filthy garments. The clothes of sin, the stain of sin, the evidence of my shame and guilt.”

The Lord commands them to be removed in the sight of all those standing with me. “Take off his filthy clothes”.  I remember back to a time when I went on a streetwalk in downtown Toronto in pouring rain for 3 hours.  My jeans stuck to my legs and I was so itchy!  When I finally peeled them off, I had hives and my skin was stained.  As I think of this, I look down to see the stain of sin still clinging to my flesh. “Lord, who will wash me clean?”  You Yourself come, Lord Jesus, with Your basin and a towel wrapped around Your waist and kneel at my feet to wash them.  Seeing You there, I cry at my shame.  “But Lord, what of the rest of me, stained from my sin?”  You look at me and answer as you did to Peter, “you are already clean because of the Word spoken to you”, and I remember, “I am willing, be clean!”  Instantly the hives and stains leave me and my skin is white.  You speak again, from Zechariah, “See, I have taken away your sin and have put rich garments on you”.  Clothed in white.  The clothing of Colossians 3:12: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Then I am given a clean turban for my head.  I never noticed before that it was Zechariah who asks for this.  Who will ask on my behalf?  Will I too be reinstated to my priestly office;  a divinely authorized priestly mediator?  Cover and protect my mind, Lord, so I can be Your mouthpiece, Your ambassador.

And this is His charge to me:  “If you will walk in My ways and keep My requirements, then you will govern My house and have charge of My courts, and I will also give you a place among these standing here.”

The promise of Jesus’ coming; the promise to remove sin in a single day; the promise of peace.  Come, Lord Jesus.