Scripture:

Zechariah 3:3-5

3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.
4 Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.” 5 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.”
So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by.

"By His Grace"

If you have been in church for any time, you may have heard it said, "Our righteousness is like filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). That is because our goodness can't get us into heaven; we cannot work our way in; it is the fallen nature of man that sets us back.   It is only in Christ that we are made right with God, and when we are saved, we put on Christ, His righteousness.   This picture here in Zechariah of the High Priest Joshua is a picture of what Christ does for us, takes our filthy rags, our sin and shame, and takes it away... Breathe that in for a moment; let that hit you differently today.   He replaces our sin with His righteousness; the Angel takes his filthy rags and gives him "rich" robes, then places a clean turban. This is a picture of restored dignity and honor; the Lord restores his honor, his place in the Kingdom.   This vision is a foreshadowing of what Christ has done for you and me; this should cause your heart to pump this morning.

Today our God-Shot is to remember that apart from Christ we are not good enough, like filthy rags, that we could never by good works make our way to heaven.   Today is a reminder of our great need for Christ and His presence, His Holy Spirit in our lives to lead us into all righteousness.   

Your past has lost its power because Christ has removed it like filthy rags and given you a new future... Let that simmer...

Lord, I thank you that because of you, I can face tomorrow, that I have a future and a hope, that my good could never have taken me in, but yours can, that you have exchanged my past and my shame for your righteousness; and because of it my filthy rags have been exchanged for garments of white, robes rich, and you have given us back our dignity and honor, thank you Lord that you sent Christ to redeem us, in Jesus' name, Amen!