Zechariah 3:3-4 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.”
Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you.”

Joshua was the High Priest, yet he was covered (clothed) in unrighteousness. We tend to forget that “there is none righteous, no not one,” (Romans 3:1) and “all of our righteousness is as filthy rags.” (Isaiah 64:6) It is only in Christ that we are “made to be the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) We tend either to be proud of how righteous we are, or think we are disqualified from serving God because of our unrighteousness. Neither attitude is right! Paul dealt with this issue repeatedly in his letters, because it has been a problem from earliest times, and specifically from the beginning of the Church. We aren’t to use that as an excuse to sin – Paul had to deal with that thinking, too – but we are to walk in humility, allowing God to cleanse and remake us, as well as use us for His purposes and His glory. Again as Paul said, God is our judge, and we are to plead the “mercy of the court,” as some defendants do in legal trials. God uses imperfect vessels, and He takes care of whatever cleaning is necessary.

This is a continuing issue for me, both because of my own slip-ups and because of those around me who feel they have disqualified themselves from service. Humanity is fallen, and God works with that. The good news is that He has paid the price to redeem us, and that is what we need to focus on. The only disqualification from serving God is a stubborn refusal to repent, and God is remarkably patient even there. I need to communicate the truth of God’s grace, to combat the lies of the enemy that seek to separate people from God. We have God’s promise that nothing can separate us from His love, (Romans 8:38-39) but we wall ourselves off from experiencing and enjoying that love when we swallow the lies of the enemy. I need to speak God’s truth in His love, so that His truth may set people free indeed.

Father, thank You for the incredible privilege of serving You. Thank You also for making it very clear that it is completely beyond my own ability, so I have nothing to be proud of. Help me not be anxious about all that needs to be done, today or any day, but rather rest, relax, and rejoice in You so that You may do it all through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!