Thursday, February 26, 2009

Dad's Letter Jacket

When our son, Caleb was in high school, he loved to wear his dad's letter jacket. 

Funny thing..........his dad never would wear it when he was in high school...........he thought it too boastful........

So it was like new.........it didn't have his dad's medals on it (there were many)........they had never been sewn on........he wouldn't wear it anyway.......

It had some award patches sewn on it that boasted of his achievements.............His mom had sewn them on even though she knew the jacket would not be worn.......

It had Scotty's name on it..............

Caleb loved walking around in that jacket displaying his dad's achievements...........

He would not have worn his own letter jacket...........he is a lot like his dad.........it would have been too boastful...........

But he loved boasting in his dad's accomplishments.................

Senior picture time came..........of course there would be a picture of Caleb in his dad's jacket.........

Isn't this a picture of how we will stand before the Lord.........."dressed in His righteousness alone.........."

You and I walking around displaying the Lord's achievements........

Ephesians says we cannot boast in ourselves.............Oh, but we can boast in Him...........

We can wear His righteousness so that all will see it..........

Romans 13:14 says, "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.........."

Put Him on...........

Wear His righteousness.............

Display it..........

Wear His humility...........He is gentle and humble in heart...........

Wear His compassion.............His discernment.............His wisdom..........

His nature...........

Luke 15..........Jesus tells about a son who returns home........the son had lost everything........he didn't have a robe of his own.........he was expecting to receive servants garments..........but the father commands his servants to go and "get the BEST robe" for his son.............It most likely would have been from his own closet.........the prodigal son's closet was empty........The best robe in the house would have most likely come from the father's closet..........(we know for sure it came from the father's house).........

The "best robe" would have boasted of the father's accomplishments.........not the sons..........and it would have covered the brokenness and shame of the son.............

Paul says: "For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified.........(1Corinthians 2:2)

So today...........I am wearing my Father's robe........."putting on the new self, which is in the likeness of God that has been created in righteousness and holiness and truth........." (Ephesians 4:24).........

My old life has been covered..........who can see...............I am wearing "the best robe" from my Father's closet.........

Displaying a righteousness that is not my own.........it is an expensive robe.........bought with a great price........what a privilege that the Father would let me put it on.........

so that I may boast to the world that He is my Father!!!!!!


Because He Lives!
Cheri








5 comments:

Laura said...

He does live!

what a sweet story about your two men. it just touched my heart to picture your Caleb strutting his daddy's stuff. And his senior picture in the jacket and everything!

Boasting in Him...

Joyful said...

Cheri, I LOVE the application you drew here. This writing captivates my heart. It gives me that visual of dressing in my Savior's righteousness. The reference to the verse in Romans is powerful - "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ..."

The 1 Cor. 2:2 verse is my theme verse this year.

Again, you have reminded me of a chorus:

"Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me
All His tender compassion and purity.
All Thy nature divine
All my nature refine
'Til the beauty of Jesus is seen in me."

Displaying Him,
Joy

Laura said...

Hey, friend! Just stopping in to say hello and thank you for your sweet words this week. It's been a long one, and it's not over yet! You got me to thinking when you mentioned your list of favorite books. You named one of my favorite authors, Richard Foster. His Celebration of the Disciplines is one of my all time favorites. And anything by C.S. Lewis.

And I love Beth Moore! You don't know how you bless me by saying her name. She has changed my life.

I hope you are doing well.

Love,
laura

Messenger International said...

Cheri, that is beautiful!

Blessings to you, yours, and your gifting!

www.MessengerInternational.blogspot.com

Laura said...

Thinking of you, my friend!