God's Dress Code
Scripture Reading — Zechariah 3; Colossians 3:12-17
“See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.”
Zechariah 3:4
While growing up, I sometimes thought God had a dress code. Wearing our “Sunday best” to church was mandatory, and if we tried to get away with wearing something else, Mom or Dad would ask, “You don’t think you’re wearing that to church, do you?”
It appears in our text that Joshua the high priest is violating God’s dress code. Actually Joshua’s tattered garments were symbolic of Israel’s fallen condition before God. Zechariah the prophet envisions Joshua— and all Israel—standing before God, stained with sin and guilt. Satan, the accuser, delights in reminding Israel of her failures and shortcomings. But God is merciful! He rebukes Satan and promises to clothe Joshua—and Israel—in the clean clothes of God’s perfect righteousness.
In Jesus, God has done this for us. On our own, we stand before God wearing tattered rags. We aren’t fit for God’s presence. Satan loves to remind us of that. He points out all of the ways we haven’t loved others. He reminds us of past failures. He tells us that God will give up on us.
But when we believe in Jesus, it’s as though God clothes us in the finest garments. He dresses us in the perfect obedience of Jesus and helps us to wear the new garments of our salvation. Let’s thank God for clean clothes!
Lord God, on our own, we wear stained and tattered clothing. Thank you for clothing us in Christ. Help us each day to clothe ourselves with the garments of your salvation. Amen.
About the author — Rob Toornstra
Rob Toornstra has served as pastor of Sunnyslope Christian Reformed Church in Salem, Oregon, since 2006. When not busy with pastoral duties, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Amy, and their three children.
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