Wrapped in the pharisaical robes of my own perceived righteousness,

I fall prostrate before the Face of holiness –

realizing my clothing is just dirty rags

that fail to cover my nakedness in the light of His presence.

I cry, like blind Bartimaeus,

“Lord, have mercy on me!”

Jesus washes me clean through the blood of His suffering.

He replaces my rags of self-righteousness

with the covering of His holiness and love.

He takes my hand and lifts me

to walk in the miracle

of His resurrection.

Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

I Corinthians 6:¹⁰ Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;