Page 170 - Evidence of Things Unseen

born in a manger. His years of ministry were spent as a homeless man. He was buried in
another man’s tomb. Those who would follow Christ must lay aside the garments of honor
that they have in this world and accept the garb of a bondservant. A bondservant wears
whatever his master gives to him to wear. Should our Master give us a very humble garment
to wear, we must wear it with grace. The apostle Paul wrote:

Philippians 4:11-12
“I have learned, in whatever state I am in, to be content. I know both how to be
abased, and how to abound... both to be full, and to be hungry, both to abound and
to experience lack.”

How do we wear the garments of humility with grace? We do so as we lay aside all
bitterness, forgiving those who have treated us shamefully. We refuse to be ruled by a spirit
of self-pity, seeking instead to be faithful wherever our circumstances have led us.
Joseph was stripped of his garment of honor and sold as a slave in Egypt. He was
bought by Potiphar, a key servant of Pharaoh, the captain of his bodyguard. Joseph did not
sulk in Potiphar’s house. He bloomed where he was planted. Yahweh showed favor to
Joseph, giving him wisdom and causing everything he did to prosper. In all of Potiphar’s
household there was no one as faithful as Joseph. In all of God’s house there has been none
more faithful than Yahshua. Both rose to positions of honor as they devoted themselves to
labor humbly as servants. Potiphar entrusted everything in his possession to Joseph, and
Yahweh entrusted all judgement to His Son, considering Him faithful. Both ever lived to do
the will of the one they served.
When we embrace discipleship, following Christ wherever He leads, He will most
certainly lead us to many humble experiences we would not have chosen for ourselves. We
glorify God by being found faithful wherever He places us. A spirit of complaint, of
discontentment, must be resisted. God will honor His faithful sons in due time. Our times
are in God’s hands.
Those who are faithful as servants will begin to rise to positions of honor in the house
they labor in. Joseph was made overseer of Potiphar’s house. Accordingly, he was given a
new garment as a symbol of honor. The garment was not as glorious as that which his father
Jacob had given to him, but it denoted honor nonetheless. The day came, however, when
this garment was wickedly stripped off of Joseph and he was cast down to an even lower
position.
Potiphar’s wife lusted after Joseph, entreating him daily to lie with her. One day she
found Joseph alone in the house and grabbed hold of his outer garment, entreating him to
commit adultery with her. Joseph refused, leaving his garment in the woman’s hands as he
fled.
Potiphar’s wife stripped Joseph not just of his garment, but of his reputation. She took
away Joseph’s reputation as a faithful servant to his master and clothed him in the garment
of a transgressor as she falsely accused him of trying to rape her.
The parallel in the life of Christ is obvious. The Jewish leaders envied Christ. They
brought false charges against the Son of God. His garment was also stripped away and
Yahshua was clothed in a garment of shame. Yahshua “was numbered among the
transgressors.” Even as He was being crucified, the Roman soldiers parted His raiment and
cast lots for His cloak.
Those who are to “clothe themselves with Christ” must wear this garment of