Devotional - 98-09-18 - He Dresses Me

The Virtuous Woman Series, Part 16

Proverbs 31:24 - She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles to the merchant

Ezekiel 16:6-14 - (God is talking to Israel) And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee 'When thou wast in thy blood, live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, live.' I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare. Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a convenant with thee, sayeth the Lord God, and thou becomest mine.

Then washed I thee with water; yea, I thoroughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I annointed thee with oil. I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.

Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and the remnant was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom. And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect for my comeliness, which I had put upon thee saith the Lord.

Every single one of us needs God's covering of linen. When He looks at us, through eyes of love, He sees what we really are. He sees our sins, our hurts, our bitterness, our anger, our jealousies, our thoughts, our unkindness, our pettiness, our wrong motives, our self-centeredness, us.

He longs to cover us. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow Again, and again, as I read the Scriptures, I see God crying out, "Don't you know, haven't you heard? I love you! I made you! You are broken, I can make you whole! You are naked, I can clothe you! You are lying there, I can pick you up! You are low, I want to raise you up! If only you will let Me."

The Proverbs 31 Woman knows this. She understands that the truly fine linen really comes from God. She is clothed in the best because God dresses her, and she makes sure that only the best is given out. When she sees someone on the streets, she sells the linen, saying "Let me tell you about Jesus." When she looks at her children, she sees through His eyes.

His beauty adorns her, and His grace shines through. Everything she does reflects His will in her life. She is a living, breathing testimony of our God and Father.

Dear Lord, Jesus, I thank You that You clothed me with Your righteousness. Lord, Your righteousness is fine linen. Father, that is so opposite Isaiah 64:6 - We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags: and we all do fade as a leaf: and our iniquities, like the wind have taken us away Lord, my righteousness is like a filthy rag. My sins remove me from Your presence. Thank You that You love me so much that You are willing to cover me. All I have to say is, "Forgive me, I have sinned." And I say it, from the rooftops, from under the bed, "Forgive me, I have sinned." And You clothe me. Thank You, Lord for Your love, mercy and grace. I don't deserve You.

Sandi