The Tattered Quilt

When my children were young I made them all small quilts to be their “special blankets”.  As the years passed by my children grew up and the quilts grew old and worn.

One of my sons continued to keep his “special blanket” on his bed, even though it was too short for him, as well as faded and ripped. The batting was exposed and you could hardly call it a blanket anymore and yet it still held a special place in his heart.

When I would walk by his bedroom I would see it lying on his bed tattered and torn.  I finally told him it was time to get rid of it and I would even make him a new quilt to replace it.  He reluctantly got rid of it, and that Christmas he recieved a beautiful new homemade quilt that was just the right size for him, which he really enjoyed.

Sometimes as Christians we live like we are carrying around an old "worn out and tattered quilt ".  The old sin nature can be easy to slip into and when we fail; we can pick up the old "quilt" and remain dispondent in our sin and forget who we truly are.

God's word says "We are new creations in Christ Jesus" and we are to clothe ourselves in Christ and his righteousness.  We are to throw off the old man and to walk in the new man, who is "created for good works in Christ Jesus our Lord."

So dear friends, when you sin, don't grab that "tattered quilt" and remain focusing on your old inadequate covering , instead, quickly repent and accept the covering of God's grace and righteousness and you will experience His joy in your heart. 

Lord Jesus, help us everyday to remember that we are clothed in You and Your righteousness.  Keep us from falling into temptation and when we do, Lord, may we quickly run back to You for forgiveness, so that we do not sit in the place of sin, but instead walk forward in your grace and holiness.  Amen

Isaiah 61:10 

"I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."

Ephesians 4: 22-24

"...that in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the  likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth."