“I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed
me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness.”
Isaiah 61:10
Do you struggle every time you have to get dressed? Would you rather stay in your pajamas or yoga pants all day? I feel that way most days.
What to wear? What to wear? Tired of all the old clothes in your closet and just not inspired by what you find there?
I’ve got some pretty old things in my closet from years ago. But before you picture me in a poodle skirt or leg warmers, some things really are worth hanging on to. Remember the saying…”an oldie, but goodie”? Think that favorite pair of jeans, white button down or trench coat.
There is a great old song, “Jesus loves me, this I know.” If you’re like me, you’ve heard it from day one of life. A lullaby but so much more. The truth is, Jesus loves me more than I know!
Maybe you’re not feeling Jesus’ love right now. Just like I’m not feeling the love for the clothes in my closet. Maybe you feel more like that old, forgotten shirt hidden in the back; unloved, worn-out, tired, dusty and hanger weary.
I heard a beautiful new twist on that old classic song last week: Jesus knows me, this I love!
Just like you know what’s hanging in your closet because you bought those clothes and put them there; Jesus knows everything about you, because He made you and put you here. The Bible says even the hairs on your head are numbered! He knows every detail about you, inside and out. You are not forgotten. He knows your greatest fears and anxieties. He knows exactly where you are all the time. You are never lost to Him. He knows your greatest joys and what makes you feel loved. He is intimately acquainted with all your sorrows and your grief. He knows your name! And He knows what you need before you even ask.
Jesus knows me, this I love! He knows His plans for you are to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future. He has made you for a purpose as part of His plan. You were fashioned by God’s own loving hand, designed specifically and uniquely for this time and place in His cosmic wardrobe of life!
Here’s another angle on the big picture of God’s closet: Jesus clothes me with His robe!
In Luke 12 Jesus tells us (via His disciples) not to worry about what we will wear because God is faithful to clothe us. All we have to do is look at the lilies in the fields and the birds in the air. Interestingly, He says, “…the body is more than clothes…. How much more will your heavenly Father clothe you?”
How much more? More than you know.
Our generous, gracious, loving Father lavishes us with His love and provides us with clothes we may not even realize we need.
A passage from the oldie but goodie book in the Old Testament, Isaiah 64:6 says, “All my righteous acts are like filthy rags.” Even the best of the best of our good behavior, our best intentions and good works are like filthy rags compared to the pure holiness of Christ.
We all have hearts that are full of sin, let’s not deceive ourselves. Our pride, ego and motives are often less than pure. Maybe we haven’t committed murder, but we have rage and bitterness in our hearts toward others. We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory and perfection.
The Bible is very clear on this: the wages of sin is death. Because He knows what we need before we even ask….
God, in His amazing, unfathomable, unrelenting, unfailing, never giving up on us love sent Jesus to pay for our sins on the cross so that we could be clothed in His robe of righteousness! How much more will He clothe you? This, THIS is how much more! He died on the cross to give us His clothes, His pure, spotless, beautiful robe, so we could be free from trying on all the heavy garments in this life that don’t add up to our salvation. No more filthy rags!
Jesus loves me more than I know!
Jesus knows me, this I love!
Jesus clothes me with His robe!
Have you opened the closet door of your heart to Jesus? He’s got a new outfit for you!
His servant and yours,
Paula Nelson