Snatched from the Fire

Zechariah 3:1-2 NIV

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?"

“Is not this woman a burning stick snatched from the fire?”

I burned like dry wood not leaving much smoke. No one knew where I hid for I hid my sins well from the world. But the Devil knew as he lured me to that deep, dark desolate place of agony.

Initially it seemed fun and felt glamorous. I acted like a rock star—fame, fortunes, and good times (of which none existed but in my imagination). After each episode, I felt empty, abandoned and alone. But I kept returning to it as a dog returns to vomit. I thought if I stuck it out long enough then surely something would change.

Change –it sure did. The fun and glamour dissipated while the fire ignited. I mustered all the strength I had left as I recalled a place where I once met a Savior. I called out, “Jesus, save me. I don’t know what I’ve done, but I’m burning up. I need Your help.” At that moment, this wild branch was snatched out of the fire.

The accuser stood right there next to me declaring that Lord couldn’t take me from him as I sold my soul to the devil with rock-n-roll. I signed the covenant with my own blood. Blood sisters we called each other, determined that we’d go down together. After all it would be more fun that way not knowing the danger we played with. Jesus told my accuser, “The Lord rebuke you Satan. She’s been bought with My blood. The covenant she has with Me is an everlasting one. It nullifies all others.”

1 John 1:2 NASB

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;

Jesus, my Advocate, the Righteous One defended me from the accuser before the Judge, Almighty God.

Zechariah 3:3-4 NIV

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 rich garments on you."

Now my filthy, dirty rags have been removed with my sin. I am now clothed in rich garments. This burning branch has been grafted into the Root of Christ our Lord. His life sustains mine as long as I stay attached to the vine—an abiding branch.

The deep, dark places of the enemy are real. The fire is real. The Lord is ready to rescue anyone who calls upon His name. Call Him! Jesus, our Advocate is ready to defend us before the accuser and the Judge. The blood of Jesus covers our sins and allows us to enter into the covenant God has for His people. We are then called His people!

Romans 9:25-26 NLT

Concerning the Gentiles, God says in the prophecy of Hosea, “Those who were not my people, I will now call my people. And I will love those whom I did not love before.” And, “Then, at the place where they were told, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”

Engrafted by His Grace--