The Christmas Robe

Every Christmas when making my list of wants for my husband and son to go shopping with, I take a mental inventory as to the condition of my robe. I reflect back on the Christmas gifts I've given over the years to my own mom and the one gift worth repeating was a new robe. What is it that mom's love so much about stepping into and wrapping up in a new robe?

I wondered a bit, was it the comfort of being clothed in the warmth and softness of something new or was it the person who gave the robe that makes it so special? Has God knitted such a desire into the very fabric of my soul to long for a new white robe at Christmas?

Looking deeper into my fondness for a new white robe I found in Revelation 3:4-5, "a few names, those who have not defiled their garments, they shall walk with Me in white for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life, but confess his name before my Father in Heaven and His angels."

Wow- did this excite me!

Garments in the Greek was literally a large outer garment or a loose upper garment so large that sometimes a man would sleep in it. I'm thinking a big comfy robe!

We know that Jesus is speaking of the believers who are faithful in their service and obedience to Him, it is the reward for the one who overcomes, it's a promise and a gift from God. "And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." (Rev. 19:8)

What does faithful service look like?

1. We are to fully carry out the ministry God has given us, using our abilities. (2Tim. 4:5) (Eph.4:11-12)

2. Pour out our lives as an offering to God. Our lives are not our own.(2Tim. 4:6)

3. Remain faithful to the things we've been taught; reading the scriptures, encouraging believers and teaching them. (2Tim. 3:14) (1Tim. 4:13)

4. Be a good worker as unto the Lord, doing what the Spirit leads us to do. (Eph. 6:8,5:9)

5. Serve one another in love. (Gal. 5:13)

J.Vernon McGee puts it this way, "A saint my friend, is one who has trusted Christ and is set aside for the sole use of God. There are only two kinds of people today: the saints and the ain'ts. If you are a saint, then you are not an ain't. If you ain't an ain't, then you are a saint."

How does one keep from soiling their garments?

1. Don't break God's laws.(Matt. 7:23)

2. Don't practice immorality,impurity, greed, idolatry and the like. (Eph. 5:5)

3. Take no part in the deeds of evil and darkness.(John 3:19)

4. Don't give in to what your sinful nature craves. (Gal.5:19)

Sadly, many Christians sometimes deceive themselves into thinking that God does not require them to live righteously. Do not be deceived, those who practice such iniquity and lawlessness will not inherit the kingdom of God. Instead choose to be washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Using an illustration from Luke 5:36- here we have an old robe and a new robe. Now it would seem foolish to take pieces of my new robe and use it to patch up my old robe. I'd have a useless new robe and an old robe that is pieced together. Instead, I choose to put on my new robe and throw away the old one.

I have come to the conclusion that I enjoy a white robe because it reminds me of being washed clean by the blood of my Redeemer, it's softness reminds me of a lambs wool brushing against her Shepherds cheek, my robe is warmth to my soul on a cold morning, and comfort to my bones after a troubled day.

One day I'll be given a white robe made of fine linen that will never wear out, become soiled or fade. My robe is precious to me because of the person who gave it to me. I look forward to the day when Christ will personally wrap me in my white Christmas robe and say welcome home good and faithful servant.

Change Your Destination

I had the privledge this weekend of serving at the Harvest Crusades in Anaheim as a follow up decision counselor for those who were publicly coming forward to make a decision, a choice, a commitment and a covenant to follow Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Of the 15 people I met on the field, prayed with, encouraged and handed bibles to, 13 of them were returning to the Lord. One woman was 80 years old and she was asking Jesus into her life for the very first time. My heart rejoiced as I witnessed the thousands upon thousands making a decision to change their eternal destination.

Pastor Greg spoke to over 100,000 people about God's love for them, God's provision of redemption, salvation and reconciliation through his Son Jesus Christ, who suffered and died for all of humanities sins. Greg spoke of life, blessings and Heaven as well as the curses, death and Hell. As I look around the stadium filled with believers, unbelievers, seekers, and prodigals the Lord is reminding me that this is the same Harvest Crusade that Moses had for His people in the desert on the plains of Moab. A decision has to be made in the hearts of those listening.

In Deuteronomy 29-30 we discover Moses calling all of Israel (millions of people) to gather around in a great assembly to listen to what God told Moses to tell His people. You'll find the message is the same today.



Moses first reminds them of all the miraculous and merciful acts God did for them before their very eyes. God had set them free from their bondage of slavery in Egypt, He defeated Pharaoh and his armies at the Red Sea, God provided safe passage as he led them throught the wilderness, He showered them with food and water sustaining them as they walked through the valleys, God guided and supported His people as He led them toward the Promised land conquering enemies along the way.

Now it was their turn to respond to all that God had done for them, providing a way of escape, they could now be reconciled back to God. The purpose of Moses' message was for each individual to enter into a covenant with the Lord their God that very day. Moses emphasized the importance of today in his message 6 times in 8 sentences. This covenant was to bind God and His people together setting them apart for His purposes. Each person had to make a decision for themselves, God would not force himself upon them. However, they were warned that there would be blessings for them to claim or curses that would follow their disobedience either way the choice was theirs.

The Bible tells us it is no mystery or difficulty of understanding that the choice to follow and obey God would bring life and prosperity while turning away and worshipping other gods (anything that takes the place of God) would bring death. But if you return to the Lord our God and obey His voice today with all your heart and with all your soul, the Lord our God will bring you back from captivity and have compassion on you and gather you again. Sin holds us captive along with bad choices but there is great hope and peace for when we return to God he is faithful to fogive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The command issued before us today is the same in the day of Moses. Set before us today is a choice of life and good, death and evil therefore, choose life that you may live. Love God, obey his commands, cling to Him for He is your life and the length of your days.