Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.”
–Zechariah 3:3-4
Joshua was not a wicked man. This was the best religion had to offer… the high priest! And yet, as Joshua stood in the presence of God, he was viewed as wearing filthy clothes. He needed God’s forgiveness just as much as you and me.
It’s important to remember that you are saved and sustained by grace alone. At times you may feel like you’re doing okay in your Christian life. You may serve, witness, give, perform acts of kindness, and have admirable character.
But don’t be mistaken. You’re not saved by any of that! And to the degree that you’re clinging to your self-righteousness or any merit that you have, you’re missing the blessing of grace.
You’re not saved by grace and works… but by grace alone. Grace is not God making up the difference in your shortfall. It does not mean that you pay a little bit and then God pays the rest. That’s not grace!
The grace of God means that you and I come without anything to offer. We come into the Kingdom helpless and hopeless and empty. And he invites us there, not on the basis of our merit or money, but on the basis of his grace.
So today, remember that your salvation is a gift of grace through and through. It doesn’t depend on what you do… it’s based entirely on what Jesus did for you!
YOU ARE SAVED AND SUSTAINED BY GRACE ALONE!
