Garments of Salvation
God's kingdom reigns on heaven and on earth. He offers the garments of salvation to each of us if we choose to follow.
“Yahweh said to Moses, “I will bring yet one more plague on Pharaoh, and on Egypt; afterwards he will let you go...About midnight I will go out into the middle of Egypt, and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the mill, and all the firstborn of livestock.”
Exodus 11:1, 4-5
God knows what it will take for His kingdom to advance. He knows our hearts and He knew that Pharaoh would not let the people go until he lost what mattered dearly to him. Are we not the same? Loss is the ultimate clarifier showing us what matters most. Is there anything standing in the way of the kingdom reigning in your life?
“From the end of the earth, I will call to you when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. He shall be enthroned in God’s presence forever...I will sing praise to your name forever, that I may fulfill my vows daily.”
Psalms 61:2, 7-8
God's kingdom is higher and His ways are better. David feels the call that each of us feel as we draw closer to our Heavenly Father. There is always more. God's calls us higher. Can you feel the upward pull? He wants to raise you up.
“Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death. Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs...When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more; but the righteous stand firm forever."
Proverbs 10:2, 12, 21, 25, 28
Solomon has all the treasures and pleasures that the earth offers and more than anyone he knows of what little eternal value those are. On earth, the wicked pursue what can benefit them here and now above then and there. The wise place greater value in what gives soul wealth. Love covers all wrongs so that our hearts can be free to stay on the path that delivers from death. The path of walking with the righteous One. How is your heart? Are you free from strife? Do you feel the firm foundation of forever that comes from faith in Jesus?
“The Lord Yahweh’s Spirit is on me, because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to those who are bound, to proclaim the year of Yahweh’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, to provide for those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified. I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh! My soul will be joyful in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation."
Isaiah 61:1-3, 10
Jesus quoted this passage famously in the midst of the temple. Our personal Savior proclaims the truth about who He is and what He came to do. He declares how He will bring the kingdom and what bringing the kingdom will look like as the people around watch it unfold.
Jesus invites us to know that we too can participate and embrace the blessing of these verses as we become kingdom builders. We are not called to sit back and do our best to avoid sin. We are called to storm the gates of hell and advance the kingdom of God on earth. How? By understanding the authority we have been given as anointed and called followers of Jesus.
“Being asked by the Pharisees when God’s Kingdom would come, he answered them, “God’s Kingdom doesn’t come with observation; neither will they say, ‘Look, here!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ for behold, God’s Kingdom is within you.” Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever seeks to save his life loses it, but whoever loses his life preserves it.” Luke 17:11-21, 32-33
God's kingdom advances one person as a time. Each of us have to answer the question who is Jesus to me and who am I to Jesus. When we understand that we have a kingdom identity and God's kingdom is within us, we can begin to bring the kingdom to the world around us.
How are you gifted? What are your strengths? How did God create you to bring love to the world? What does it mean to you that the kingdom is within you and how can you share the treasure within? The life we lose is the life that was not meant to last. The life we gain is life eternal through Jesus Christ, our Savior.