| WORD | “But we are like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are like filthy rags.” (Is.64:6) “He made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (II Cor. 5:21) “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 13:14) |
| WISDOM | In ancient times, people entering a covenant became one in spirit, and exchanged articles of clothing, so that they “were seen to be one”. In God’s covenant with us, the only clothing we could exchange with Him is that of our “inner man”. So Jesus humbled Himself and became man, clothing Himself with our sinful flesh, as well as the penalties of our sins. In His suffering and passion, He looked like us, our former unrighteous selves. On our part, through His gift of faith, our covenant Partner, Jesus, clothed us with His brilliant righteousness and eternal life! We put on Christ, and our spirit reflects His sinlessness. We look like Him! In our modern day, no store would exchange rags for riches! But His love is the difference, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways.” (Is. 55;9) The exchange of our “inner man’s clothing” completed the first step of God’s covenant with us.
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| A WORK of the Lord in Japan. People dress each day, according to the weather, their job, and the needs of the day. But there are certain occasions, where we dress differently, in order to celebrate the occasion. Shown below are CFN-Japan Bible School students, together with families and children from local churches in Sapporo, celebrating a “March For Jesus”.
Their public faith, song, and joy send a message to on-lookers that something special is going on. They are celebrating “Jesus in them”, and Jesus at work in our midst! Even children understand and celebrate that “we are temples of God, and that the Holy Spirit dwells in us”. (I Cor. 3:16) Let’s join them today in praise, recognizing the reality and the depth of His covenant with us. Standing together with you looking to the Lord, Charles and Dianne Gyurko |