Eccles. 9:8 – “Let your garments always be white, and let your head lack no oil.” According to Ephesians 5:25-27 the Lord Jesus gave Himself to die on the cross in order to save and sanctify the church so we can appear before Him at His second coming in an unblemished garment.

The moral and spiritual aspects of our lives are often likened to a garment in the Bible, and the Lord Jesus says that this garment should be clean. It is of no avail trying in our own power to keep our garment clean as the weakness of our sinful nature does not allow for that. Isaiah 64:6 says that all our righteousnesses, i.e. all our best efforts, are like filthy rags. How should this garment then be kept clean? By the blood of the Lamb. We read in Revelation 7:14 of sinners who repented: “[They] washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” John says, “The blood of Jesus Christ… cleanses us from all sin.” This is an ongoing process.

After our lives have been cleansed during repentance and salvation we should take care that they remain clean. We have an obligation to remain under the blood and refrain from wilful sinning. We cannot do this without the help of the Lord, who empowers us to holy living through His Holy Spirit: “Let your head lack no oil.” That refers to the oil of the Holy Spirit, who alone can anoint and enable us towards holy living. The Lord poured out His Spirit on Pentecost so all of us can be filled with the Holy Spirit. He does not only convict us of sin but also gives us the power to resist and overcome sin and temptations.

Have you been washed with the blood of the Lamb and did you trust the Lord for the filling of the Holy Spirit to enable you tot keep yourself pure from sin by His power? The Holy Spirits makes Jesus Christ a conscious reality in our lives so we can heed the command of Paul in Romans 13:14, where he says, “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfil its lusts.”

Prayer: “We thank You, Lord, that You called us out of darkness into your marvellous light. Help us to walk worthy before You, that our garments will always be white and that the oil of the Holy Spirit will not lack in our lives. Cleanse us with the blood of Christ from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and help us to walk in the Spirit so as to be strengthened not to yield to temptations. Make us more than conquerors that we may have confidence to appear before your throne. We are full of gratitude to You, Lord Jesus, that You came to destroy the works of the devil in our lives. Help us trusting You for complete victory over the flesh and sin. We ask this in the Name above all names. Amen.”