clothed – Praying Pint

6.g. People who have not soiled their garments,

Revelation 3:4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Isaiah 52:1    Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean.

Isaiah 59:6   Their webs will not serve as clothing; men will not cover themselves with what they make. Their works are works of iniquity, and deeds of violence are in their hands.

Isaiah 61:10   I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Isaiah 64:6     We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Jude 1:23    save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

Luke 21:36    But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

We read of those who have not soiled their garments. They walk in a way worthy of Jesus Christ and what He has done and is doing. They conquered any fleshly desire to follow others in false teaching. Do you ever wonder if your garments (your works, faith, thoughts, and words) are soiled? Do you wonder if you have adopted what is culturally acceptable and are living in filthy garments before the Lord? Do you think about what is clean and acceptable? Do you think about doing what is worthy of the price that was paid for your sins?

Soft living, comfortable living, self-centered self-reliant living, and neglecting God’s Word are no help in keeping your garments unsoiled. We would do well to be less influenced by the world and what it has to offer and be ever seeking and desiring to walk worthy of Jesus Christ. Who would want your bride to come to the wedding in a dirty and messed up wedding dress? The church (each of us) is the bride and we should want our garments to reflect our love and devotion to Jesus Christ the groom.

5. Weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you

Luke 16:19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

Malachi 3:18     Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

2 Thessalonians 1:8   in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.  They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,  when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

James 1:11-12    For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.  Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

James 5:1-7     Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.  Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten.  Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire.

Psalms 50:22    “Mark this, then, you who forget God, lest I tear you apart, and there be none to deliver!

I wonder if we see the significance of intentionally desiring, following, honoring, and obeying God. I wonder if we think our commitment is close to giving our whole heart, mind, and soul to Him. Reading these verses give me concern with what I see in our culture of what it means to live for God. When the culture waters down this commitment, people live more for self and less for God. Pleasing themselves with what is satisfying to their eyes, yielding to the desires of the flesh, and giving God not more than a glance most days.

It is sad but so true, that we find every reason and excuse to live for self rather than seeking what is pleasing to God. Prosperity seems to always lead people away from God and adversity, for the most part, brings them toward Him. I heard a radio preacher this week say “if you are always walking in the sunshine, more than likely you are walking in a desert void of living water and food. Prosperity can have a “desert” effect on our lives. It doesn’t have to be that way. We can choose to live for God, seek after God, desire to humbly serve God, worship God, honor God, follow God, listen to God, obey God. This choice has to be heart, mind, and soul deep.

.Hell is real. Separation from God is real. Torment is real. There is no second chance once you die. How many people went about their day today not thinking it would be their last? How many people think they have time to spare before they will fully commit to God? If they knew the day and the hour(no one does) certainly they would be ready but they never are. We don’t choose God to avoid hell. We choose God because of who He is. We choose God because of the great mercy, grace, and love He has given to us in and through Jesus Christ. We choose God because He first chose us.

God is not mocked and our lives should not mock the great grace, mercy, and love given to us by which we may be saved. Search your heart and you will know the level of commitment you are living to God. Don’t make the mistake of using what the culture says is commitment. Use His word and see where He leads you into this commitment. Do not delay another day.

All that is within me

“ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

Psalms 103:1-5 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalms 104:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty,

Psalms 146:1-2 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

Psalms 57:7-11 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!

Psalms 86:12-13 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

Note these comments on this Psalm from Charles Spurgeon:

“We should attribute it to his later years when he had a higher sense of the preciousness of pardon, because a keener sense of sin, than in his younger days. His clear sense of the frailty of life indicates his weaker years, as also does the very fulness of his praiseful gratitude.” David understood that true worship was something deeply inward, of the soul. It is not just about outward forms or expressions, but also about something real from the soul. “Only a holy man can delight in holy things. Holiness is the terror of unholy men; they love sin and count it liberty, but holiness is to them a slavery.” “David selects a few of the choicest pearls from the casket of divine love, threads them on the string of memory, and hangs them about the neck of gratitude.”