How to Get Started with your Jesus TEA

Posted on June 26, 2019 by Jennifer Grace

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20 (NKJV)

So you’ve been wanting to get started with a TEA time with Jesus, but aren’t quite sure how to do it? Today’s devotion is for you!

First of all, let’s praise the Lord! You have heard God’s call and accepted His invitation to come! That is fantastic!

The best way to make it happen is to organize your TEA time ahead of time so that the enemy doesn’t slip in and distract you.

So, TODAY, pick your Jesus spot. This is the place in your house where you will have TEA with Jesus each day. Set it up with your Bible, a journal or notebook, and some pens. I also have a devotional book, prayer shawl, calendar, and an old hymnal. But you will find out what you need and add it as you pray over the years. Be sure to tell your family, “This is my Jesus spot! When you see me sitting here, I’m having TEA with Jesus. So please wait until I’m finished to talk to me.”

Also, TODAY, set your alarm for an hour early for tomorrow morning. Leave it set an hour early every day!

TOMORROW, when your alarm goes off, jump out of bed, greet the day and say, “Good morning, Jesus, let’s have TEA!” Don’t check your phone or computer or TV or let anything distract you. Heat your tea kettle, pour yourself a steaming cup, and sit down in your Jesus spot.

Open your Bible and let Jesus speak to you first through His Word. I like to pray a little prayer before reading, such as Psalm 119:18…Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law. If you aren’t sure where to read in your Bible, begin with the book of John, reading a few chapters each day. Then read the Psalms and then Genesis. Or you might try a Bible reading plan to help you read the whole Bible in a year. I follow the plan found in Our Daily Bread.

As you are reading your Bible, have your pen handy to underline favorite verses that God shows you. These verses you can use later as conversation starters for prayer, to write in a card to encourage a friend, or to put on a note card on your bathroom mirror to memorize!

When you finish your Bible reading time, pull out your prayer journal or notebook and write down one of the verses that really spoke to you. Then pray and/or write your prayers to Jesus about that verse. Let your prayers flow from your heart to the throne of God!

The beautiful part of the TEA CUPP invitation is that it is more than just an invitation to sit down and have TEA with Jesus, it’s also an acronym for things you can talk about when you pray. The “T” is for THANKSGIVING where we thank God for His many blessings. The “E” is for EXALTING where we lift up and praise the name of Jesus. The “A” is for ADMITTING where we admit our sins and ask Jesus’ forgiveness. The “C” is for God’s CALLING where we talk to God about what He is calling us to do today or with our lives. The “U” is for UNDERSTANDING our stories so we can share our testimonies with others. The first “P” is for PROMISES where we claim a promise to carry us through the day. And the last “P” is for PETITIONS where we pour our hearts out to Jesus for everyone on our prayer lists.

Over the years the Lord showed me how I could use the different verses I have underlined for different parts of prayer. So in my Bible, I have put the letters “T-E-A-C-U-P-Pet” next to many of the underlined verses. When I want to tell God thank you, I just find a “T” verse and get started praying.

Another neat thing about the TEA CUPP acronym is that there are seven parts, just as there are seven days in a week. So, you could do one part each day of the week, or you could do them all in one day, or you could just pray as God gives you verses each day.

Today’s TEA CUPP: Follow today’s devotion to set up your Jesus spot and get started in prayer. After your TEA time with Jesus, arrange your Jesus spot again so it is ready for tomorrow. Welcome, dear friend, to the best TEA party of all!

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 (NKJV)

Bible Mom: Hannah’s Petition

Posted on June 19, 2019 by Jennifer Grace

“…I…have poured out my soul before the Lord.” 1 Samuel 1:15 (NKJV)

This is the last in our series of Bible Moms…Hannah’s Petition.

Do you know the story of the Prophet Samuel? He has two books named after him in the Old Testament. The story of how he came to serve the Lord and be a prophet is really quite remarkable…and it all began with the prayers of his mom Hannah.

Poor Hannah was one of the two wives of a man named Elkanah. His other wife, Peninnah, had children, but Hannah had no children. This made Hannah very sad. Every year they would go to Shiloh to worship the Lord, but Hannah was too sad even to eat. In fact, her soul was so bitter that she prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. Hannah even promised the Lord, that if He gave her a son, she would give him to the Lord all the days of his life.

Finally, the Lord remembered Hannah and blessed her with a son. She named him Samuel, because she had asked for him from the Lord. For three years Hannah nursed and cared for her precious baby. Then, because of her vow, she brought Samuel to the priest Eli in Shiloh and gave her boy to him to serve the Lord all his days.

Hannah told Eli, “O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him.” 1 Samuel 1:26-27 (NKJV)

Each year, Hannah brought Samuel a new robe to wear. The priest Eli blessed her because of her gift of her son. And the Lord visited Hannah and gave her three more sons and two daughters, while Samuel grew to be a great prophet for Israel.

Today’s TEA CUPP: Read the amazing story of Hannah and Samuel in 1 Samuel 1-3 today. I love how God used the prayers of this Bible Mom to turn His people back to Him. Never underestimate the power of your prayers. Use your prayer time today to pour your heart out to the Lord as Hannah did so long ago. This is what the “P” for Petitions is all about.

“Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.” 1 Samuel 1:17 (NKJV)

Bible Mom: Elisha’s Promise to the Shunammite

Posted on June 12, 2019 by Jennifer Grace

Then he said, “About this time next year you shall embrace a son.” 2 Kings 4:16

Our Bibles are full of promises. According to Bibleinfo.com there are 3573 promises! That’s a lot of promises! When we read God’s Word each day we can discover these promises, underline them, pray about them, and claim them for our own. That’s what the first “P” of the TEA CUPP is all about: Claiming God’s Promises.

But I have to tell you a story, a story about me claiming a promise that was for someone else, one that is probably not included in the 3573 Bible promises that are for everyone.

When our second child was born, God put the desire in my heart for more children while I was still in the hospital holding our new born baby boy! But this was a problem because my husband and I had talked about only having two children. I wasn’t a prayer warrior then, but before our son turned one, I was reading a One Year Bible and learning how to pray. Six years later I was still reading the One Year Bible when I came across this story of the Shunammite woman.

Though she doesn’t have a name, this lady lived in the town of Shunem. She was a notable woman who was able to provide food and lodging for the prophet Elisha. Every time Elisha came to town he would stay with her. So Elisha wanted to bless the Shunammite woman and her husband in a special way.

Now you must understand, I’d been reading my One Year Bible every day for six years. I had read this story several times before. But this year a particular verse jumped out at me. When Elisha told the Shunammite woman, “About this time next year you shall embrace a son.” I underlined the verse and claimed it as a promise for me. And guess what, exactly nine months later God gave us our son Kevin Jon. All praise be to God!

In the following years when I was reading my Bible, I would come to that promise and wonder if I could claim it again, wish I could claim it again, not sure if it would be greedy to claim the Shunammite’s promise more than once…but eventually I did claim it, over and over, and finally, after 11-1/2 years, God gave us another son. I’m sure the Shunammite mom had no idea someone would be borrowing her promise thousands of years later!

Today’s TEA CUPP: God’s Word is packed with promises for us to discover and claim…promises of peace and perfection and provision, promises of hope and help and heaven. As you read your Bible today, look for God’s promises, underline them, put a letter “P” next to them, and claim them for your own. Tell Jesus, “I claim this promise!” Here are a few to get you started…

In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:2 (NKJV)

And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:13 (NKJV)

And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. John 10:28 (NKJV)

p.s. And next week, our Kevin Jon, who is now 19 years old, leaves on his second international mission trip, this time to the Philippines. And so I claim this promise for Kevin and his team…

For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways. Psalm 91:11 (NKJV)

Bible Mom: Understanding with Ruth

Posted on June 5, 2019 by Jennifer Grace

Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies. Proverbs 31:10 (NKJV)

She was the great-grandmother of King David, the grandmother of Jesse, the mother of Obed, the wife of Boaz, the daughter-in-law of Naomi, a Moabite, a God-seeker, and the only Bible mom to have a book of the Bible named for her. Who was this great lady? Ruth.

I can’t think of anyone more worthy to highlight the “U” part of our TEA CUPP than this marvelous Bible mom. “U” is for “Understanding our stories,” and here is Ruth’s amazing story in these four short Old Testament chapters. When we understand our stories, how God is at work in our lives, how Jesus saved us, we can share this testimony with others. And that’s what our Bibles let us do with Ruth, giving us a glimpse into the life of a godly mom.

How did Ruth end up in Bethlehem? It all happened in the days of the Judges when God’s people kept turning away from Him. God sent a famine on the land, so a man named Elimelech and his wife Naomi and his two sons moved to Moab. The two sons married Moabite women, one of whom was Ruth. Well, Elimelech died and his two sons died, so Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem. She told her daughters-in-law that they should stay in Moab with their families and remarry. But Ruth wouldn’t hear of it. She proclaimed:

“Entreat me not to leave you,
Or to turn back from following after you;
For wherever you go, I will go;
And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;
Your people shall be my people,
And your God, my God.
Where you die, I will die,
And there will I be buried.
The Lord do so to me, and more also,
If anything but death parts you and me.” Ruth 1:16-17 (NKJV)

Back in Bethlehem, Naomi was very sad for she had gone away “full” with a husband and two sons, and had returned “empty.” But she actually wasn’t empty, for she had a wonderful daughter-in-law, Ruth, who was willing to work hard in the fields and do whatever Naomi said. A relative named Boaz noticed Ruth’s dedication, blessing her with these words:

The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge. Ruth 2:12 (NKJV)

You will have to read for yourself the courtship and traditions that allowed Ruth to become the wife of this gentleman Boaz. And once they were married, the Lord blessed them with a son…

So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. Ruth 4:13 (NKJV)

Today’s TEA CUPP: Read the amazing story of Ruth is Ruth 1-4 today. My friend, your story is found in scripture, too! Whether you have many children like Leah, prayed long for children like Rachel, or are barren like Elizabeth until she was old, you can find a mom like you in scripture. Your salvation story is here, too, whether you learned early to sit at the feet of Jesus, as did Martha’s sister Mary, or if you had five husbands like the Samaritan woman, you will find a kindred soul, and you will find out how much Jesus loves you! What lady from the Bible do you relate to today? Talk to Jesus about her in your prayers. With whom can you share your story?

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Proverbs 31:30 (NKJV)

Bible Mom: Samson’s Mom’s Calling

Posted on May 29, 2019 by Jennifer Grace

…but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 (NKJV)

God calls us to do so many things as moms. We are called to respect our husbands. We are called to bring up our children in the training and admonition of the Lord. We are called to take care of our homes. But I don’t know if any of us have had a calling quite like Samson’s mom.

First let’s look up these callings for us all:

…and let the wife see that she respects her husband. Ephesians 5:33 (NKJV)
Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV)
She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness. Proverbs 31:27 (NKJV)

Next let’s discover the story of Samson’s mom in Judges 13. An Angel of the Lord visited a lady from the tribe of Dan and declared to her:

“…Please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not to eat anything unclean. For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” Judges 13:4-5

Did you catch that bonus list for Samson’s mom?

Don’t drink wine or similar drink.
Don’t eat anything unclean.
Don’t cut his hair.

Numbers 6 gives even more details of what it means to be a Nazirite, set apart to God. He also could eat no grapes or raisins, nor touch a dead body. Samson was to be kept holy for the Lord.

Well, if you read the entire story of Samson through Judges 16, you find out Samson did not keep himself holy, but his mom had done her part in bringing him up as the Angel instructed her.

Can you imagine having such an instruction list? Some moms do have a list given to them by doctors. Kids these days may have allergies to milk, eggs, soy, nuts, etc. Moms teach their kids with allergies to avoid those foods. How all the more do we need to heed God’s Word when He calls us to do something!

That’s what the “C” part of MY TEA CUPP Prayers is all about, talking to God about our CALLING. It may be what He is calling us to do today, such as visit a neighbor or teach our kids a Bible verse. Or it may be what He is calling us to do with our lives, whether that is to be a godly wife and mom or build cities like Sheerah, the daughter of Ephraim (1 Chronicles 7:24)

Today’s TEA CUPP: Read the fascinating true story of Samson and his mom in Judges 13-16. Recall the instructions the Angel gave to Samson’s mom. What instructions has God given you as you raise your kids? Write what He’s calling you to do in your prayer journal and ask Jesus to help you. Go get ’em, Bible mom!

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24 (NKJV)

Bible Mom: Admitting with Eve

Posted on May 22, 2019 by Jennifer Grace

…she took of its fruit and ate… Genesis 3:6

And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. Genesis 3:20

Oh, Eve, why did you do it?

Oh, Eve, why did you listen to the serpent?

Oh, Eve, why did you even talk to that rascal the devil?

Oh, Eve, why did you look at the tree and then stretch out your hand?

Oh, Eve, why did you pluck the fruit and take a bite?

Oh, Eve, why did you give some to Adam? And Adam, why didn’t you throw that fruit on the ground and be a strong spiritual leader for your family, asking God to forgive Eve?

Oh, Eve, why did you hide from God in the garden, didn’t you know He always see you?

Oh, Eve, why did you blame the serpent instead of admitting your sin?

Oh, Eve, how did you feel when God told you that in pain you would bring forth children? Do you know a lot of moms would like to talk to you about that!

Oh, Eve, were your first clothes scratchy and heavy? Weren’t you sad that God killed some of your animal friends to make those clothes? That was the very first time blood was shed for sins.

Oh, Eve, did you hear in God’s curse on the serpent a promise? (Genesis 3:15) From your Seed God will send a Savior to bruise the serpent Satan’s head!

Oh, Eve, how did you feel when God kicked you and Adam out of His beautiful garden and put cherubim and a flaming sword to guard the gate?

Of Eve, do you know how much all your daughters are just like you? We all need the Savior from your Seed, Jesus, who shed His blood once for all and crushed the serpent’s head.

Today’s TEA CUPP: Read the whole story of Eve and the serpent in Genesis 3. What forbidden fruit have you been eating? What sin do you need to cast off? This is what the “A” part of the TEA CUPP is all about, admitting our sins to Jesus and asking for His forgiveness. By using God’s Word to admit our sins, we are cleansed from all unrighteousness.

And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. Matthew 5:30

Bible Mom: Exalting with Mary

Posted on May 15, 2019 by Jennifer Grace

And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.Luke 1:46-67

We all love Mary. You know, Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus from your Christmas nativity scene? Yes, there are many Marys in the Bible, but none is as special as this young lady whom God chose to be the mother of His Son Jesus. Mary was so obedient when the angel came with the news, that she replied, “Let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)

After receiving the angel’s announcement, Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was also miraculously pregnant in her old age with the special baby John the Baptist. When Mary walked in the door, the baby John leapt inside Elizabeth’s womb for joy that his Savior had come. What better story is there than this for life beginning in the womb!

And it was there in Elizabeth’s house that Mary shared her praise to God. Known as Mary’s song, she sang…

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
He has helped His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and to his seed forever.”Luke 1:46-55

Mary’s Song inspires me to pray…

O Jesus, Your dear mother Mary had words to praise You when You were just a tiny baby in her womb.

She magnified You and rejoiced in You.

She knew You were God and Savior.

She Knew You were the One who does great things and sends us all blessings.

She knew You are holy and merciful and we should come to You in fear and respect.

And she knew You are forever, from generation to generation.

Mary proclaimed all this and EXALTED You with her cousin Elizabeth as they were both expecting miraculous babies.

May all the world magnify You, Jesus, as did Mary!

Today’s TEA CUPP: Read the wonderful story of Mary in Luke 1:26-56. Isn’t it amazing how she praised the Lord so beautifully with this little life inside of her? Can we do the same? Can we lift up and EXALT the name of Jesus each day as moms? That’s what the “E” part of the TEA CUPP is all about, EXALTING the Lord. This week as you read your Bible, be on the lookout for verses to praise Jesus. Another Bible mom, Hannah, the mother of Samuel prayed this one…

My heart rejoices in the Lord;
My horn is exalted in the Lord.
I smile at my enemies,
Because I rejoice in Your salvation. No one is holy like the Lord,
For there is none besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God.1 Samuel 2:1-2

Bible Mom: If Sarah gave Thanks…

Posted on May 8, 2019 by Jennifer Grace

And Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.” Genesis 21:6

Sarah laughed. She didn’t cry. She didn’t say, “That’s crazy!” She didn’t immediately rejoice in thanks and praise to God. Sarah laughed.

Do you remember the story of Sarah? We meet her early on in our Bibles, right in the book of Genesis. Her name really began as Sarai, meaning “my princess,” and Abraham’s name was Abrahm. Sarai was a very beautiful lady, so beautiful that Abraham told kings she was his sister to protect himself. She actually was his sister, but only a half-sister.

Sarai had an interesting life as God called Abrahm to move. She became accustomed to living in tents and honored Abrahm’s wishes when he requested her silence. Sarai did have one fault: She didn’t trust God to provide her with a child, so she gave her servant Hagar to Abraham. Hagar conceived and bore a son name Ishmael, but He wasn’t God’s chosen heir. Sarai then abused Hagar and Ishmael because she wanted a child (Genesis 16).

Finally, God looked with favor on the elderly couple, sending an angel to announce a baby. Abrahm was given the new name Abraham, and Sarai was given the name Sarah, meaning “princess.” She would no longer be just Abraham’s princess, but the mother of many! When the baby announcement came, Sarah was hiding in the tent. Since she was 90 years old (Genesis 17:17) and thought she’d never have a baby, she laughed at the news (Genesis 18:12). And so her baby was given the name Isaac which means laughter.

By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Hebrews 11:11 (NKJV)

Can you imagine Sarah’s THANKS to God after the birth of Isaac? What would she say?

THANK You, Lord, for this son you have given me in my old age.

THANK You for hearing my prayers from so long ago.

THANK You for forgiving me for my sin in sharing Hagar and then abusing her.

THANK You for taking away my shame and blessing me.

THANK You for watching over us all our lives as we moved from here to there, protecting me from those kings who might have touched me.

THANK You for being the One who formed the stars and Your promise that our children will be as many as the stars (Genesis 15:5).

THANK You again and again for this baby.

THANK You, Oh, Lord, my God. Amen.

Today’s TEA CUPP: Read Sarah’s story in Genesis 18:1-15. Ponder what Sarah might have prayed in THANKSGIVING. What blessings do you have for which to THANK God? This is what the first “T” of the TEA CUPP is all about, giving Him THANKS.

This week underline THANKSGIVING verses in your BIBLE. Put a “T” next to the verses, choosing one to write in your prayer journal. Use this as a conversation starter for your THANKSGIVING prayers. Here are some verses to get you started…

We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks!
For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near. Psalm 75:1

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. Psalm 95:2

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 106:1

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15

Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20

Thank you to Sweet Publishing / FreeBibleimages.org for the great clip art!

Witness of the Stone

Posted on April 17, 2019 by Jennifer Grace

But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Luke 24:2 (NKJV)

Easter is here in just a few days! In just a few days we proclaim, “He is risen!” (Mark 16:6) Who is risen? It’s Jesus! How do we know He is risen? Because the stone is rolled away and the tomb is empty and Jesus appeared to so many witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:6). Would you consider that perhaps the first witness to Jesus’ resurrection was the stone?

The stone that was rolled in front of the tomb (Mark 16:46).

The stone that was sealed with the Roman seal and guarded by Roman guards (Matthew 27:66).

The stone that would be too heavy for the ladies to move who came Sunday morning to anoint His body with spices (Mark 16:3).

But the stone had already been rolled away by an angel and an earthquake (Matthew 28:2)! The stone miraculously rolled away, leaving fainting guards and an empty tomb (Matthew 28:4-6)! If the stone could tell the story, what would it say?

Having stones as witnesses is not something new. Centuries before Jesus’ crucifixion when God’s people entered the Promised Land, Joshua set up stones as a witness (Joshua 4:7). Right before Joshua died, he set up another stone, declaring…

…“Behold, this stone shall be a witness to us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord which He spoke to us. It shall therefore be a witness to you, lest you deny your God.” Joshua 24:27 (NKJV)

We wonder what Joshua’s stone thought when God’s people turned away from Him again and again and again? Did it witness to all the words of Moses and Joshua? Did it tell the people how far they had fallen from God? Did the stone show God how much His people needed a Savior?

And when that Savior, God’s Son Jesus, came to walk this earth, He taught the people about stones. He said He could raise up children for Abraham from the stones (Luke 3:8), that if the people didn’t praise God, the very stones would cry out to worship Him (Luke 19:40), and that the Stone the builders rejected had become the Chief Cornerstone (Psalm 118:22).

But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” Luke 19:40 (NKJV)

Yes, the stone that rolled away is a witness for us that Jesus, who died for our sins on the cross, was buried, and the third day rose to eternal life. The stone shouts, “The tomb is empty! Jesus is risen!” We must believe the stone moved and Jesus is alive, or our faith is in vain.

Today’s TEA CUPP: Listen to the witness of the stone: Jesus is risen! Read one of the Gospel accounts (perhaps Matthew 28:1-10) of this greatest story ever, the true story of our Savior Jesus rising from the grave. Believe in Jesus. Thank Him for His saving work on the cross, His forgiveness, and His promise of eternal life in heaven.

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NKJV)

So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31 (NKJV)

My Coat

Posted on February 20, 2019 by Jennifer Grace

We all need coats, especially this time of year in the northern United States. Each day as we don our coats to head outside, we might contemplate the coats in the Bible. Did you know there are so many Bible coats?

The first coats: It all began when Adam and Eve listened to Satan the snake, ate the forbidden fruit, and realized they were naked. Because they had disobeyed God, Adam and Eve could no longer stay in God’s perfect garden. But before He kicked them out of Eden, God made clothing for Adam and Eve out of animal skins. When God killed his dear animal friends, that was the first time blood was shed for sins, pointing to the day when Jesus would shed His blood for our sins on the Cross. Adam’s and Eve’s animal skin coats were the first coats in the Bible.

Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.
Genesis 3:21 (NKJV)

More coats: Flip forward a few pages in Genesis to the story of Joseph. In this passage, Joseph’s father Jacob gave him a beautiful coat, making his brothers very jealous and leading to his slavery in Egypt. A second coat in Potiphar’s house got him thrown in prison (Genesis 39). John MacArthur in his Study Bible tells us that Joseph was a type of Christ, pointing us to Jesus. Both had their coats taken from them and were falsely accused. Both Joseph and Jesus were shepherds of their Father’s sheep. Both were dearly loved by their Fathers, but hated by their brothers. Both were placed with two other criminals, one who was saved and one who was lost. And both Joseph and Jesus forgave those who wronged them and saved their nations. What men had intended for evil, God turned to good. And their coats played a big part of the story.

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors.
Genesis 37:3 (NKJV)

A Spirit-filled coat:: Next jump ahead to Elijah in 2 Kings 2:13. Here Elijah’s protegee Elisha waited to see Elijah go to heaven. Finally, after following Elijah everywhere, Elisha watched as God took Elijah up in a whirlwind. When he was gone, Elisha found Elijah’s cloak on the ground. He picked it up and took it with him and God gave Elisha double the Spirit of Elijah!

He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan.
2 Kings 2:13 (NKJV)

A clean coat: Then in the book of Isaiah, long before Jesus even brought us salvation, Isaiah proclaimed we will have a garment of praise! We are clothed in garments of salvation and covered in robes of righteousness! Oh, what joy! Oh, what a promise!!! And again the prophet Zechariah promises that God gives us a clean robe.

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
My soul shall be joyful in my God;
For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Isaiah 61:10 (NKJV)

Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.”
Zechariah 3:4 (NKJV)

The wrong coat: The prophet Zephaniah cautions us to beware of wearing foreign apparel. We must be wearing the robe Jesus gives us. This warning is echoed again in Matthew when Jesus tells the story of a king having a wedding party…

And it shall be,
In the day of the Lord’s sacrifice,
That I will punish the princes and the king’s children,
And all such as are clothed with foreign apparel.
Zephaniah 1:8 (NKJV)

But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 22:11-13 (NKJV)

The healing coat: Also in the New Testament, time after time Jesus heals and heals and heals. The people who follow Him long to just touch His coat for healing. So I pray for all on my prayer list who are need of Jesus healing, to just touch the robe of Jesus and be healed like the people in Matthew 14…

And begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.
Matthew 14:36 (NKJV)

A royal coat: And finally, flip to Revelations where Jesus returns to marry His bride the church. And just like He clothed Adam and Eve, Jesus provides the wedding garments for His bride. He gives us the whitest most beautiful robe of all, washed clean by His precious blood.

And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Revelation 19:8 (NKJV)

So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
Revelation 7:14 (NKJV)

Oh, Jesus, I don’t deserve it, but You gave it to me anyway — Your beautiful coat, pure and white and every color of the rainbow all at once! Oh, Jesus, what a miracle! You take our filthy rags and make us beautiful!

Today’s TEA CUPP: My dear friend, put on the righteous robe which Jesus has given you. Thank Him for His forgiveness and healing. Stay away from the wrong coats. Look up these fantastic coat verses in your Bible today. And welcome the day when Jesus comes again to clothe us all in white robes and take us home!

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
(The Solid Rock by Edward Mote,1834)

Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin
And be washed in the blood of the lamb
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean
O, be washed in the blood of the lamb.
( Are you Washed in the Blood? Elisha A. Hoffman, 1878)

Thank you for stopping by My TEA CUPP Prayers!

If you enjoyed today’s devotion, you might also enjoy A Tale of Two Coats and Filthy Rags.

My TEA CUPP Prayers

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