Lenten-Meditations-2015-w

Restoration
Monday, March 30, 2015
A Smelly Situation
READ: Zechariah 3
KEY VERSE: 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.” –Zechariah 3:4 (NIV)
More than 25 years ago, former televangelist Jim Bakker was convicted of
fraud and sentenced to 45 years in prison. He ultimately served four and half
years and was paroled. In an interview, Bakker told how one day after he
had cleaned toilets in jail, he had a visitor – the Rev. Billy Graham. Forsaken
by friends and dressed in “smelly toilet-cleaning clothing,” Bakker couldn’t
believe that Graham was there to embrace and pray with him. Upon his
release from prison, Bakker was regularly accompanied to church by the
Graham family.
Just as Jim Bakker was covered with filthy stench, the Book of Zechariah
reveals the vision of the high priest Joshua covered in filthy clothing standing
before the angel of the Lord as Satan accused him. But the Lord rebuked
Satan and restored Joshua to his appointed position clothed in dignity.
Like Bakker, many of us have found ourselves in a smelly situation. But don’t
despair. We serve a God who specializes in restoring the lost, the least and the
left out. –Nancy Myrick
LOOKING WITHIN: How have I allowed my relationship with the Lord to be
severed? What do I need to do to restore it?
Heavenly Father, please forgive my sins that have caused a breach in our
relationship. Renew in me a right spirit and restore my life. Amen.
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