New Clothing

​12/13/20
Today's devotion for today is based on Isaiah 61:10, "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, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with jewels."
As you prepare to celebrate Christmas, give thanks that Jesus has provided new spiritual clothing for you. The Bible says: "For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness."
Are you wearing the robes of Jesus' righteousness? Or are you wearing the ugly robes of shame and guilt over the sins of last night? Perhaps you have chosen for yourself darker garments of jealousy and anger. Could it be that your clothes are permanently stained by the repetitive sins of greed, lust, or worry? Maybe you are sure that your clothes look pretty clean compared to those around you, but they smell of pride and arrogance.
Christ has taken away our sin-stained garments through his suffering and death on the cross and removed them from us. Through his perfect life in our place, Christ has earned our forgiveness and salvation. Jesus has taken his robe of righteousness and wrapped it around us. In Christ, you and I are dressed for heaven. Give thanks to Jesus for your Christmas clothes—his garments of salvation which he has won for you.
Dear Jesus, thank you for earning salvation for me through your life and death in my place. Help me always to appreciate what you have done for me. Help me to live as you have clothed me—as a forgiven and righteous child of God. Amen.