Prayer and Promises

Now Joshua was dressed with filthy clothes as he stood before the Angel. So the Angel of the Lord spoke to those standing before Him, “Take off his filthy clothes!” Then He said to him, “See, I have removed your guilt from you, and I will clothe you with splendid robes.” — Zechariah 3:3,4, HCSB 

Joshua, who represents God’s people, is clothed in filthy garments, and stands before the angel; but as the people repent before God for the transgression of his law, and reach up by the hand of faith to lay hold on the righteousness of Christ, Jesus says, “Take away the filthy garments from them, and clothe them with change of raiment” It is through Christ’s righteousness alone that we are enabled to keep the law. Those who worship God in sincerity and truth, and afflict their souls before him as in the great day of atonement, will wash their robes of character and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. 

Your Saviour is a living Saviour, who is pleading with the Father in your behalf… God bears long with the children of men, but there is a time coming when he will cease to bear with them. God wants them to get under the cover of his wings. Jesus is pleading his blood in our behalf, but Satan is standing at his right hand, resisting every effort in our behalf. May God help us to humble our hearts. 

Jesus says: “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”… Those who have manifested true repentance for sin, and by living faith in Christ are obedient to God’s commandments, will have their names retained in the book of life, and they will be confessed before the Father and before the holy angels. Jesus will say, “They are mine; I have purchased them with my own blood.” 

Let the Spirit of God fashion our character and our work. We are responsible for the manner in which the truth is presented… Christ is soon coming, and those who have not kept the Sabbath sacredly should reform. God will frown upon those who disregard his commandments, and he cannot bless the church that retains Sabbath-breakers in its fellowship. 

We should seek for the grace of God that we may represent his service aright… We want to know that we are on the Lord’s side. We want to dwell with him through all eternity. 

— Signs of the Times, June 2, 1890 

O my Lord, take away my filthy garments, I seek Your grace in my life that I may serve you aright. My failings are many, I humble my heart in repentance and reach up in faith to lay hold on the righteousness of Christ. My praise goes to You, my living Savior, who loves me and washes me clean in Your own blood. I cherish Your Sabbath day that I may rest in You and have special fellowship with You and fellow believers. Bless Your people with Your Spirit that we may serve You in truth and righteousness.