If God is For Us, Who Can Be Against Us?

“Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The LORD said to Satan, ‘The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?’ Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, ‘Take off his filthy clothes.’  Then he said to Joshua, ‘See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.’  Then I said, ‘Put a clean turban on his head.’ So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by.”   Zechariah 3:1-5

Once again it is good to know that I have a God that intercedes for me, that “pleads my case” and “upholds my cause.”  What a great picture of God’s grace and mercy.  In reality we are guilty of the accusations thrown at us my Satan, however in God’s eyes we have been made pure by the blood of Jesus.  What a blessing.

These verses remind me of the song The Package by Don Francisco.  Here are the Lyrics:

I was wakened in the morning' by a knockin' on the door
So I got up and went to see what all the knockin' was for
There stood the Devil with a box addressed to me
He said "Boy, I've got something here I think you oughta see

I said, I know that I don't want it if it's anything from you
'Cause I hate everything you say and don't like anything you do
But then he pointed with his finger and he smiled kinda sly
'Cause the package said "from God" there in the corner, way up high

So I said, "if it's from God, then why'd He send it here by you"
He said, "He always sends me when there's dirty work to do"
And this box is full of misery, poverty and shame
To perfect you thru your suffering 'till you're worthy of His name

Well, I'd been pretty patient, but that last line took the cake
I just couldn't take no more, I'd taken all that I could take
So I told him what I thought of him and all his filthy lies
Then I fired a shot that got him right between the eyes

I told him "Jesus took my sickness and my poverty away
You nailed Him to the cross yourself when you murdered Him that day
The suf'ring that I do will be for love and not for shame
I'm already worthy by His blood, to wear His name

And I know my Father loves me and has only good in store
So you just take that jive and get away from my front door
You can write my name on packages until I'm ninety two
But every single one I'm sending back to Hell with you"
Go on get out of here

I love the truth found in Francisco’s response to the Devil’s accusations.  He goes back to Jesus’ sacrifice and doesn’t allow Satan to take away anything that Christ has done for us.  He accepts Christ’s gift no matter how little he deserves it and lives in Christ’s promises.   If all Christ followers lived in this truth it could have powerful results.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for taking away my sin and for giving me fine garments to wear.  Thank You for replacing my filthiness cleanness.  Help me to live in this truth, to believe Your words of truth over Satan’s deceptive lies.  Thank You for Your sacrifice so that I can live freely and with hope.  I love You, thanks again for loving me.

Amen