The way God see us, is sometimes different from the way we see ourselves and the way other people see us. Satan is the accuser of the brethren, he is always accusing us before God. Satan doesn’t get the big picture, for he knows God’s Righteousness and  Justness, demands justice for wrong-doings {sins}, because Satan knows God is Righteous and Just, but God is also Loving and Merciful.

Justness demands a price for sin. But Christ Jesus paid the price for sin.

Romans 6 verse 23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

Once the price for Justice is paid, Mercy can be given. We never deserved Mercy but God’s love, made a way for mercy to be given.

John 3 verse 16: “For God so loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have ever lasting life”.

In Zechariah 3 verses 1 to 10: Zechariah is shown a vision of Joshua, the high priest, clothed in filthy clothes.  He is not fit to stand before God. Naturally Satan is there and he would have been bringing that to the attention of God.

Joshua here, is a picture of us, we are all dressed in filthy clothes; none of us clean enough to be acceptable in God’s holy presence.

Romans 3 verse 23: “For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God”.

However, Joshua does not try to cover it up, or justify himself, or promise to do better in the future, God Himself takes away the filthy clothes and puts wonderful new cloths and a clean turban on him. There is nothing any of us can do, to make ourselves right before God.

In this story in Zechariah, Joshua also has another meaning, He is described as ‘a burning stick snatched from the fire, saved by God from total destruction. In this way he foreshadows Jesus Christ who carried our sins, suffering the judgement we all deserved from God, but coming through it victoriously.

Joshua was a high priest at the time. This reminds us that Christ Jesus, the great High Priest, ‘Lives for ever to plead with God  for us”.

Once we have accepted Christ Jesus, through repentance and acceptance, we get forgiveness. The Price for Justice has been paid, by God’s Grace and Mercy in Christ Jesus, on The Cross.

1 Corinthians 7 verse 23: “ You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men”.

The Price was paid to give us New Life, and justification before God. Now we are In Christ Jesus, when God The Father at us He only see us through His Son, which gives us right standing before the Throne in Heaven. we are now fit for service, in His kingdom.

God Bless

O F J