"’Come now, let's settle this,’ says the LORD. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool’” (Isaiah 1:18)
No Clean Clothes Imagine that all your clothes are completely dirty. Not only that, but you have no way to wash them. That is how you might feel about your sins and regrets. I know what it feels like to feel I’d messed up everything good in my life—ashamed to face people and powerless to clean myself up.
A Miraculous Exchange But then imagine there’s a knock at the door, and you see a man with a huge bag. “I’m here to exchange your clothes!” he says. “You have dirty clothes, and I have clean ones for you. Let’s go gather your old ones, and I’ll give you all these—for free. And I’ve picked them out especially for you.”
That is a small picture of what Jesus wants to do with you. He wants to take all your regrets, sins, and guilt and exchange them with His love, joy, and peace. Doubtful? See what He did with Joshua:
"Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?” Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you.” Then I said, “Put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by." Zechariah 3:1-5
Jesus, Your Lawyer You may feel accused like Joshua did, with dirty clothes and great guilt. But instead of accusing you, God wants to free you. It’s like Jesus is your lawyer, and you’re standing trial for your guilt. Instead of being led off to prison, Jesus says, “I forgive that person. I paid for their sin Myself and want them to go free. Here’s My blood to prove it.” That’s why the Bible describes Jesus as your Advocate, or lawyer: “But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous” (1 John 2:1).
The Great Exchange Jesus wants to give you His clean clothes, but you have to give Him your old clothes in exchange. That’s what it means when it says, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19). Repenting means letting go of all of your sins—past and present—and saying to God, “I don’t want to live this way any longer. Please forgive me and help me do what You want.”
Do you want to let go of your guilt? Pray this prayer: "Lord, I give you all my regrets, sins, and guilt. Take them completely away from me and give me Your righteousness in exchange. I want to do what You want.” You can know for sure that God forgives you based on this promise: “But if we confess our sins to him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (I John 1:9). You are forgiven by Jesus’ blood! If this message has helped you, share it with someone by forwarding this to them.
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