Proverbs 28:21 To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.

Recently I questioned my understanding of a spiritual issue. Seeking the Lord held no knew instruction. Being one who has read many authors, I turned to an old source, a man of letters, a man who had shed some very special light on scriptures for me in the past.

I read about two sentences on the subject as he understood it and closed the book. How could such a learned man be so wrong? I came for understanding and came away let down. In reading those words I knew the truth to be otherwise. The Spirit of Truth said, “This is error.”

Being one who has gained some amount of respect within my church as being trusted with the word, I felt numbed. I certainly had more respect, for that man of letters, than my contemporaries have for me. I want to be a man who is sound in doctrine. I definitely run to ground every doubt that I have until the Spirit allows me to rest, but who am I to be trusted if this man of letters failed me?

I have no wish to fail anyone as the man in today’s opening verse, but to deny my ability to be wrong denies my humanity. I trust in the Lord, that my Comforter will guide me in truth. Yet I cannot deny others the right to object or have another opinion, if it is not foundational to salvation.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Leaning isn’t standing upright.

Matthew 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Wait a minute, didn’t you tell me to come just as I am, that I don’t have to get dressed up? Well yes, but that was to hear and receive the Word. Did you expect to remain in those filthy rags when summoned to the wedding feast? The Lord bids us come as we are but has no intention of leaving us in that condition.

Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

Note here that God provided those robs of salvation and righteousness. What if a man were to decide to obtain his own robes of salvation and put them on? Would not that man be confident in his purchase? He would boast, I am saved, see I have the robes of salvation. He would never seek what God had to offer in the way of apparel because that man was only looking to avoid eternal punishment.

This man would come and try to get into the wedding feast and find that he had no wedding garment.

Matthew 22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

So how do we put on robes of righteousness if we cannot even dress ourselves in salvation? The answer is the same to both, God provides for those that are in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

We should not worry about our robes nearly as much as who is Lord of our lives. That takes surrender, submission, being subject, and being obedient servants. The Father will provide for those who are in Christ Jesus.