A Lesson from God

In

Patchworking

                Several  years ago, I began to seek verses that I could use to put together a tract related to patchworking to give when I made quilts for sale or gifts.  I hit wall after wall of frustration.

                This last week, I woke up one morning, with several verses on my mind.  These verses all spoke to my heart of the way the Lord works in our lives and the way patchworkers work their craft.

                As a patchworker, I take rags, scraps of fabric, cast off clothing, worn out linens and I give them new life.  My goal is that folks might see Jesus in me.  Jesus redeems us and gives us new life.  Those of us who are destroyed, worn out, useless, hopeless, can all have a new life in Christ.

                Isaiah 64:6 says, “ But we are all as an unclean thing; and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…”

                Before I can turn a bag of rags into something useful, something beautiful and new, I have to clean them.  I have to cut away the bad spots, the stains.  I accept the rags as I receive them, and then I clean them up.  I don’t expect to receive them ready for use.  Likewise,  Jesus doesn’t expect to receive us ready to serve Him.  He cleans us up first.

                Psalm 51:7, 10 says, “Purge me with hyssops and I shall be clean: wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.  …  Create in me a clean heart, O God; renew a right spirit within me.”

                Matthew 7:19 says, “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”

                When I’ve cleaned up the rags, when I’ve cut out and disposed of that which is no good, thus redeeming the rags, again to a useful purpose, they are given a new life.  They become a small part of a bigger picture.  They are no longer what they once were, a pair of pants, a shirt, a dress.  The old life they had, has passed away.  They have a whole new life.

                2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if anyone be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.”

                Christ redeems the rags of our righteousness and gives us a new life when we trust in Him.

                1 John 1:9 says, “ If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

                Where are your “rags of righteousness”?  Have they been redeemed?  Have you been given a new life?

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Posted by icecastle

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