Clean up, Christmas is comin’

“Shout for joy and be glad, O Daughter of Zion, for I am coming to dwell among you,” declares the LORD. “On that day many nations will join themselves to the LORD, and they will become My people… Now Joshua was dressed in filthy garments as he stood before the angel. So the angel said to those standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes!” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have removed your iniquity, and I will clothe you with splendid robes” (Zechariah 2:10-11, 3:3-4 BSB).

God promises, and He kept His promise when Jesus came to us, Immanuel, God with us. Christmas is almost here! We need not wait to get clean though.

When God cleans up sin, He cleans it all the way. The blood of Jesus is not cheap soap that leaves stains. If you’ve been cleansed, and Satan (or one of his minions) accuses you of it, that’s a lie. The way to fight that lie is to agree, “Yes, I did that,” followed by, “but Jesus cleaned it up, and you can shut up.”

When you receive Jesus, you’re not a foster child, you’re a son. You’re not offered hand-me-downs; you get a new suit like a son’s. You don’t eat leftovers in the kitchen; you sit at the table with the Father, enjoying His banquet. You may feel unsure of your standing, but that’s just unbelief at work. God says you’re already good enough. You’re His–believe Him. 

(from Hunger: A devotional commentary on the Bible for people hungry to know God.)