Those Filthy Rags – by Toni Babcock

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6 KJV). 

A housekeeper gets attached to her rags. Never mind the frayed edges and the stains that don't quite wash out. So when I spotted one of my housekeeping rags in the trashcan, I was miffed. I figured it must of have been a maintenance man that disrespected one of my rags.

Spiritually speaking, "…all our righteousness is as filthy rags…" (Isaiah 64:6 KJV). We don't deserve anything from God. Yet unfortunately, too often we continue to "get mad at the maintenance guy" - those people that disrespect "our rags." Can you relate to this? Have you ever been upset with another Christian for disrespecting your "rags" by discrediting you in some hurtful way? If so, pray for a supernatural humility. 

God does not reuse self-righteous rags, so why should we? Our rags only get in the way. We are not given permission by God to wave our righteous indignations before another Christian in a self-righteous, retaliatory way. Let us prostrate ourselves before the God who died for our sins, and cry foul against ourselves first, and then deal gently and humbly toward another Christian when we feel wronged. This is what it means to love one another. It doesn't mean we need to be a doormat, but we can be a footbridge. We can be honest without being hurtful in return. This kind of honesty will go a lot farther in reconciling ourselves to our fellowman than pulling our indignations out of the trashcan and waving them around to make a point.

The psalmist says "I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor, (Psalms 140:12 KJV). Simply put, we can leave our cause and our right in the hands of the Savior and let it go. 

Toni lives in Minnesota and loves to write devotionals. Learn about her and read The Stone Writer HERE.