Thought for Today: “Stand Before God”

When I consider how we need forgiveness, the story of Joshua, the High Priest, comes to mind. Here he is standing before the Lord God clothed in filthy garments, representing his sin. And there standing next to Him is Satan accusing him. (Zechariah 3:3-4)

The guilt and shame must have been overwhelming, much as it was with Isaiah who stood before the Lord with the same attire saying, “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips.” (Isaiah 6:5a)

God rebukes Joshua’s accuser and takes away Joshua’s iniquity by putting upon him clean garments, from his head to his feet. (Zechariah 3:4-5)

The Lord also forgave Isaiah by having an angel take a coal from off the alter and touching Isaiah’s lips saying, “Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.” (Isaiah 6:7)

To receive forgiveness, we must come and stand before the Lord God who alone as the power to forgive and remove our iniquity.

This is what the gospel is all about.